Inter Milan’s Club World Cup dream came crashing down in the Round of 16 following a dismal defensive showing and a last-gasp goal from Hercules that sealed Fluminense’s spot in the quarter-finals.
Despite twice hitting the woodwork, the Nerazzurri couldn’t recover from early and late lapses, ending their campaign in frustration.
The Brazilian side will now meet either Manchester City or Simone Inzaghi’s Al-Hilal in the next stage of the competition.
Inter had emerged from the group stage unbeaten, drawing 1-1 with Monterrey before securing victories over Urawa Reds and River Plate.
Marcus Thuram earned his first start, with Hakan Calhanoglu, Pio Esposito, and Davide Frattesi sidelined. Fluminense advanced after a 4-2 triumph over Ulsan HD and goalless draws against Borussia Dortmund and Mamelodi Sundowns, with former Milan stalwart Thiago Silva anchoring their defence.
Disaster struck almost immediately for Inter. Just three minutes in, a deflected Jhon Arias cross from the right found German Cano completely unmarked six yards out, and he nodded it past a static Yann Sommer.
Miscommunication between the goalkeeper and defenders proved costly.
Inter nearly responded when Henrikh Mkhitaryan teed up Federico Dimarco from a Nicolò Barella lofted pass, but the shot was stopped at close range. Thuram then fired a volley over from a tight angle.
At the other end, Fluminense came close to doubling their lead as Sommer’s weak parry of an Arias effort fell to Samuel Xavier, whose follow-up whistled just wide.
Another nervous moment came for Inter in the 39th minute. After a second defensive error, Fluminense had the ball in the net, but VAR intervened and ruled out Gonzalo Ignacio’s close-range header for offside.
Tensions began to boil as Kristjan Asllani and Alessandro Bastoni were both booked, meaning suspensions for the potential quarter-final.
Meanwhile, Fluminense coach Renato Gaucho was cautioned for time-wasting, triggering an angry outburst from Mkhitaryan.
Sommer had to be alert to push a deflected Arias curler around the post, but the miss of the match came from Stefan de Vrij.
In the 69th minute, Lautaro Martinez nodded down a Sebastiano Esposito cross, and the Dutchman somehow failed to convert from just five yards out.
Dimarco narrowly missed with a free kick, and Lautaro couldn’t generate enough power to beat 44-year-old keeper Fabio from the edge of the box.
Inter’s luck completely deserted them in the closing stages. Martinez was denied twice in under a minute, first by a brilliant reflex stop from Fabio on a low Esposito pass, then by the upright, as his effort ricocheted agonizingly off the inside of the post.
Carlos Augusto had a late opportunity but blasted over with his weaker foot after being picked out by Valentin Carboni.
Then came the final blow. A long throw-in was flicked into the box, and with Inter’s defence caught off guard once more, Hercules calmly steered a low shot into the far corner—“a snooker shot into the far bottom corner.”
Dimarco almost snatched a late consolation, but his curling effort from the edge of the box smacked against the crossbar, summing up a night of missed chances and misfortune for the Nerazzurri.
