Key Takeaways
- Teenage striker Francesco Pio Esposito, 19, slotted home the opener to spark Inter’s 2–0 win over River Plate.
- A red card for River’s Lucas Martínez Quarta shortly before Esposito’s goal shifted momentum decisively.
- Alessandro Bastoni added a stoppage-time dagger to seal top spot in Group E and eliminate River Plate.
- River’s Gonzalo Montiel also saw red during heated post-match scenes, while crowd unrest flared.
- Inter will face Fluminense in the Round of 16 in Charlotte; Monterrey advances as Group E runners-up.
On a charged evening in Seattle, 19-year-old Francesco Pio Esposito seized his moment. Following a fiery first half filled with tackles, River Plate’s Lucas Martínez Quarta was dismissed for denying a counter-attack. Minutes later, Esposito coolly finished from Petar Sučić’s assist, breaking the deadlock.
As tension consumed the stadium, River’s desperation spilled over—Gonzalo Montiel joined Martínez Quarta in the sin bin. In stoppage time, veteran Alessandro Bastoni left no doubt with a low-drive strike, sealing a commanding 2–0 victory and crowning Inter as Group E winners.
The result knocked River Plate out of the tournament and ended in crowd unrest, as frustration boiled over under a thunderous atmosphere. Inter’s coach celebrated the team’s control in the second half and decisive use of their numerical advantage.
Buoyed by this momentum, Inter will face Fluminense in the Round of 16 in Charlotte, while Monterrey—as runners-up—prepares to take on Borussia Dortmund.
Esposito’s breakthrough strike and Bastoni’s late killer blow have lit Inter’s path through the Club World Cup. With youth and experience combined, Inter looks ready for the next test against Fluminense. Stay tuned to Goal Drift for in-depth tactical previews, match reactions, and all the unfolding drama of the knockout rounds.
