In a sweltering opener at the FIFA Club World Cup in Charlotte, Brazil's Fluminense pulled off a major upset by beating Inter Milan 2–0. German Cano set the tone with a third-minute header that slipped through goalkeeper Yann Sommer's legs, giving the South Americans an early lead.
Inter Milan pressed for an equalizer after halftime but were repeatedly denied. Stefan de Vrij missed from close range, Fabio saved Sebastiano Esposito with his feet, and Lautaro Martinez struck the post in a frantic search for a breakthrough.
Three minutes into stoppage time, substitute Hercules calmly slotted home from the edge of the box to seal a memorable victory and send Fluminense into a quarterfinal clash with Al Hilal on Friday in Orlando.
Meanwhile, in Orlando, Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal produced another shock, edging Manchester City 4-3 in extra time. Marcos Leonardo's brace, including a 112th-minute winner, and a standout performance from goalkeeper Yassine Bounou propelled the Riyadh side past the Premier League champions.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola had warned about the tight schedule and risk of fatigue, with just over three weeks since his side's Premier League finale on May 25. Now, two underdogs prepare to face off for a spot in the semifinals – proof that anything can happen when global giants collide under the hot lights.
Reference(s):
Club World Cup: Fluminense stun Inter Milan, Man City fall to Al Hilal
cgtn.com
