In two thrilling encounters in the ongoing Fifa Club World Cup tournament, two favourite clubs have been dealt unexpected blows by Brazilian and S/ Arabian teams.
Fluminense delivered a commanding 2-0 victory over Inter Milan at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Monday night, becoming the second Brazilian club to eliminate European opposition in this year’s FIFA Club World Cup. German Cano opened the scoring after just three minutes with an opportunistic header, capitalising on defensive confusion in the Italian penalty area. The early goal set the tone for Renato Gaucho’s side, who frustrated the former UEFA Champions League winners throughout the contest.
Inter Milan struggled to find their rhythm against disciplined Brazilian defending, with Cristian Chivu’s team failing to create clear-cut chances despite controlling large periods of possession. The Serie A giants appeared unsettled by Fluminense’s aggressive pressing from the opening whistle, particularly when Jhon Arias and German Cano harried Stefan de Vrij into early mistakes. Matteo Darmian’s failure to clear a routine cross allowed Cano to score unmarked from close range, exposing defensive frailties that have plagued Inter throughout the previous season.
Fluminense’s Colombian winger, Jhon Arias, earned his third FIFA “Superior Player” award of the tournament with another standout performance on the right flank. The 27-year-old, who joined from Independiente Santa Fe four years ago, tormented Inter’s left-back throughout the match with his pace and directness. His perfectly weighted cross created the opening goal and his work rate off the ball prevented Inter from establishing any consistent attacking momentum in the final third.
The Brazilian side doubled their advantage in stoppage time when Hercules finished clinically on the counter-attack, punishing Inter’s desperate forward surge. Fluminense’s victory continues a remarkable trend for South American football, with no Brazilian club having defeated European opposition in competitive matches between 2012 and the start of this tournament. The result eliminates another European heavyweight and maintains the competition’s unpredictable nature after similar upsets by Flamengo and Botafogo in the group stages.
Fluminense will now face either Manchester City or Al Hilal in the quarter-finals, with their pragmatic approach proving effective against technically superior opponents. The triumph is vindication for manager Gaucho’s tactical approach, which prioritised defensive organisation and quick transitions over possession-based football. Inter’s elimination continues their disappointing record in crucial matches this season, having also lost the Champions League final to Paris Saint-Germain despite reaching the semi-finals ahead of Barcelona.
In another breathtaking encounter in Charlotte, Al Hilal pulled off one of the tournament’s greatest upsets, defeating defending champions Manchester City 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller that went to extra time.
The Saudi side, massive underdogs against Pep Guardiola’s juggernaut, exhibited resilience, tactical grit, and clinical finishing to end City’s perfect record in the competition and advance to the quarter-finals against Fluminense.
Here’s how Al Hilal orchestrated this stunning victory. The match began with City asserting early dominance, taking the lead through Bernardo Silva’s controversial ninth-minute tap-in, which survived a VAR review despite Al Hilal’s protests. City’s relentless pressure saw Erling Haaland, Savinho, and Jeremy Doku denied by Al Hilal’s inspired goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, whose string of first-half saves kept his team in the game.
Despite City’s control, Al Hilal’s defence held firm, ensuring the deficit remained at one by half-time, setting the stage for a dramatic turnaround. The second half saw Al Hilal flip the script with a blistering start. Marcos Leonardo equalised just after the break, capitalising on a poorly defended cross, before Malcom raced from his own half to slot past Ederson, stunning City with a 2-1 lead.
Though Haaland quickly responded with a powerful equaliser, Al Hilal’s relentless spirit kept them in the fight. A crucial goalline clearance by Ali Lajami denied Haaland a late winner, forcing extra time in a match that refused to slow down.
In extra time, Al Hilal’s determination shone through despite visible fatigue. Rúben Neves’ pinpoint corner found Kalidou Koulibaly, whose towering header restored their lead. City hit back immediately through Phil Foden’s sublime finish, but Al Hilal refused to buckle. The decisive moment came in the 113th minute when Ederson’s heroic save on Sergej Milinkovic-Savic fell to Marcos Leonardo, who bundled the ball home to claim a historic victory.
Al Hilal’s triumph was a masterclass in heart and opportunism, with Bounou’s heroics, Leonardo’s brace, and a collective never-say-die attitude outshining City’s star-studded lineup. Their ability to exploit defensive lapses and stay composed in chaos propelled them past the favourites.
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