Champions League finalist Inter beat River Plate 2-0 in the last match of Group E and qualified for the 1/8 finals of the Club World Cup.
The first half was dominated by physical clashes, which logically led to fouls and yellow cards for both teams. Gonzalo Montiel of the Argentines and Alessandro Bastoni of the Italian grand received official warnings.
Inter were pressed by the scoreline in the other group match, where Monterrey were 3-0 up at Urvaa, and with that result the Nerazzurri were out of the tournament and had to pick up the pace. Thus, in the 51st minute the big star of the team from Milan - Lautaro Martinez - shook the side post of the goal of River Plate.
A quarter of an hour later, River Plate's Lucas Martinez Quarta received a direct red card after tripping Mkhitaryan, who was breaking away alone against the goalkeeper.
6 minutes after this situation Mkhitaryan found Esposito in the penalty area, who managed to score and put Inter ahead in the score. During the next 15 minutes the actions of the players of both teams became more aggressive and they received 2 yellow cards respectively.
Bastoni put an end to the dispute in added time when he made the score 2-0 after a shot from the edge of the penalty area. Although the intrigue in the match disappeared Montiel of the Argentine club managed to earn himself a second yellow card and let his team finish the match with 9 men.
Inter will face Brazil's Fluminense at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina in the 1/8. | BGNES