Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Inter Milan Storm Into Club World Cup Last 16 After Defeating Nine-Man River Plate

The turning point came in the 66th minute when Lucas Martinez Quarta was shown a straight red for a reckless challenge on Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Inter Milan booked their place in the Round of 16 at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup with a hard-fought 2-0 win over River Plate on Wednesday night. Goals from teenager Francesco Pio Esposito and defender Alessandro Bastoni sealed the win in a heated contest that saw the Argentine side reduced to nine men.

With Group E finely poised going into the final matchday, Inter knew that victory would secure top spot. But they faced a stern test against a physical River Plate side fighting for survival in the tournament. In front of a lively 45,000-strong crowd at Lumen Field, tackles flew in while the tempers flared.

River’s aggressive approach backfired in the second half. The turning point came in the 66th minute when Lucas Martinez Quarta was shown a straight red for a reckless challenge on Henrikh Mkhitaryan. With the Armenian surging through on goal, Martinez caught Mkhitaryan with his poor late challenge. Just six minutes later, Mkhitaryan turned provider as he delivered a perfectly weighted pass for Esposito, who calmly slotted home his first-ever goal for the Nerazzurri.

THROUGH TO THE KNOCKOUTS AS GROUP WINNERS! 🙌#ForzaInter #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #InterRiverPlate pic.twitter.com/9Wk8i2bdJu
— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter_en) June 26, 2025

As pressure mounted on the Argentine outfit, their discipline unravelled. Gonzalo Montiel picked up a second yellow card late in the game, leaving River with nine men and little hope of a comeback. Inter capitalized, with Bastoni firing home from the edge of the box in stoppage time to wrap up the win and top the group.

Post-match scenes turned ugly as River Plate supporters hurled objects at Inter players leaving the pitch. Christian Chivu’s men will now face Brazil’s Fluminense in the Round of 16 in Charlotte on Monday. Meanwhile, River Plate exit the competition after a turbulent ending.

Monterrey Advance to Club World Cup Last 16

Monterrey sealed their place in the Round of 16 at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup with a resounding 4-0 victory over Urawa Reds. The Mexican giants turned on the style, producing a dominant performance to finish second in the group behind Inter Milan. Nelson Deossa opened the scoring with a stunning long-range strike in the 30th minute, setting the tone for what was to come. Just four minutes later, German Berterame made it 2-0 by finishing off a well-worked move.

The moment of the night came in the 39th minute when Jesus Corona unleashed a thunderbolt from over 30 yards out, giving the Urawa goalkeeper no chance and putting the result beyond doubt before halftime. Berterame returned late in the second half to notch his second of the night and cap off a commanding win for Monterrey. Monterrey will now face Group F winners Borussia Dortmund in Round of 16.

2025 FIFA Club World Cup

FIFA Club World Cup 2025

Inter Milan

Monterrey

River Plate

Abhinav Goel

soccer

I am a soccer writer at The PlayOffs, covering everything from match analysis to transfer buzz and tactical deep dives. Ever since I was a kid, soccer has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been an obsession. Playing and watching the game from a young age fueled my passion, eventually leading me into the world of sports media and betting. Now, I get to analyze the sport I love and bring the latest updates to fans worldwide.