Inter Milan kept their Club World Cup dreams alive with a thrilling 2–1 comeback win over Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds, thanks to a moment of magic from captain Lautaro Martínez and a last-gasp winner by Valentin Carboni. The victory puts the Champions League runners-up in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stage.
Lautaro’s Stunning Equaliser Sparks Inter’s Fightback
Despite dominating possession and registering 18 shots, Inter were left stunned in the first half as Urawa opened the scoring and held the lead well into the second half. Inter’s frustration mounted as they struggled to break down Urawa’s compact defence, failing to get a single shot on target.
Then came Lautaro.
In the 78th minute, the Argentine striker produced a moment of brilliance. Connecting with a corner, he pulled off an acrobatic side volley to finally beat the Urawa keeper, Inter’s first shot on target after nearly 80 minutes. The equaliser turned the tide, injecting life into the Italian side just when they needed it most.
It was Lautaro’s 10th goal in just 10 appearances across the UEFA Champions League and Club World Cup in 2025.
“We need to play with pride, stay humble, and learn to handle pressure,” Lautaro said after the match. “We conceded on their only chance, but we didn’t give up. We kept believing.”
Carboni’s Late Winner Seals the Deal
As the match edged into stoppage time, Inter ramped up the pressure. Their persistence paid off when youngster Valentin Carboni slotted home the winner during injury time, sparking wild celebrations on the bench.
Inter manager Cristian Chivu praised his team’s resilience: “They played seriously. We tried different approaches, created chaos, and used our substitutes wisely. Urawa sat deep and defended well, but we always believed.”
Chivu highlighted a key tactical decision, introducing a second striker to exploit Urawa’s deep block. “It’s tough to talk formations when a team defends inside their box. What mattered was stretching the play wide and attacking the depth of the defence. I’m proud of my players for giving everything.”
Urawa Eliminated, Inter on the Brink of Qualification
With this defeat, Urawa Red Diamonds suffer their second loss of the group stage and are officially eliminated. Their head coach, Skorza, expressed disappointment: “We wanted to push the line higher, but Inter didn’t let us. The players gave their all, but conceding in added time is heartbreaking.”
Inter now stand with one win and one draw, putting them in a commanding position in Group E. In the group’s other match, River Plate and Monterrey played to a 0–0 draw, further boosting Inter’s chances.
Sundowns Strike Early, Dortmund Hit Back
In Group F, Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund were pushed to their limits in a chaotic 4–3 win over South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns. The back-and-forth contest featured moments of brilliance, costly errors, and a debut goal from rising star Jobe Bellingham.
Despite the heat and unfamiliar conditions, it was the South African champions who started stronger. Midfielder Ribeiro went on a dazzling solo run from midfield before coolly finishing to give Sundowns a surprise lead.
However, a defensive blunder just minutes later gifted Dortmund an easy equaliser, with Nmecha pouncing on a loose pass to tap into an empty net.
By the 34th minute, Dortmund had seized control. A slick move saw Guirassy feed Brandt down the right, who then delivered a pinpoint cross for Guirassy to head home. Just before halftime, Jobe Bellingham chested down a pass in the box and smashed home his first goal for the club, making it 3–1.
Late Drama as Sundowns Push Back
In the second half, Jobe Bellingham turned provider, threading a brilliant through ball that led to an own goal by Sundowns. But the South African side weren’t done yet, they launched a spirited fightback, scoring twice to make it 4–3 and forcing Dortmund to dig deep in the final minutes.
The German side held on, with Bellingham’s performance earning plaudits. The younger brother of England star Jude Bellingham is proving he has plenty of talent in his own right.
Elsewhere in Group F, former China national team coach Kim Pan-gon’s Ulsan HD suffered a second straight defeat, falling 4–2 to Brazil’s Fluminense. The result eliminates Ulsan from the competition.
Despite showing flashes of quality, Ulsan couldn’t cope with Fluminense’s fast-paced attacking play and individual brilliance. South Korea’s hopes in this year’s tournament are now over.
As the Club World Cup group stage nears its conclusion, European powerhouses like Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund are asserting their dominance, while South American clubs remain formidable. With knockout stage spots on the line, the next round of matches promises even more drama.
