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On Day 12 of the Club World Cup, Inter secured a spot in the Round of 16 with a performance full of character and quality against River Plate. Goals from Pio Esposito and Bastoni proved decisive in a tense and eventful match, sealing Chivu’s side as Group E winners. Also on the day: a goalless draw between Mamelodi and Fluminense that granted the Brazilians second place in Group F (they’ll face Inter in the Round of 16); Dortmund’s narrow win over Ulsan; and Monterrey’s four-goal rout of Urawa, which earned the Mexicans a well-deserved ticket to the knockout stage.
Results – Matchday 12, 2025 Club World Cup
| Match | Score |
|---|---|
| Borussia Dortmund–Ulsan Hyundai | 1–0 |
| Mamelodi Sundowns–Fluminense | 0–0 |
| Urawa Reds–Monterrey | 0–4 |
| Inter–River Plate | 2–0 |
Inter–River Plate 2–0
With a mature and proud performance, Chivu’s Inter defeated River Plate in a high-stakes encounter, qualifying for the Round of 16 as group leaders. Youngster Pio Esposito, starting for the first time, opened the scoring with a classic striker’s goal. In stoppage time, Bastoni doubled the lead to seal qualification. It was Inter’s most convincing display so far, and they’ll now prepare to face Fluminense on Monday, June 30, in Charlotte.
The Match
The first half was a tactical and physical battle: Inter tried to control the game, but River’s man-to-man pressing—engineered by Gallardo in an aggressive 4-2-3-1—cut off the Nerazzurri’s space. Few chances but lots of intensity, with an energetic Pio Esposito coming close on two occasions. Inter shifted gears after the break. Lautaro hit the post and soon after came the turning point: Martinez Quarta was sent off in the 66th minute for denying Mkhitaryan a clear scoring opportunity. With the man advantage, Inter found the opener in the 71st minute through Pio Esposito: turn, shift, and a clean finish into the corner. In the dying minutes, Bastoni wrapped it up with a classy solo run and finish.
Flashpoints
Tensions boiled over in stoppage time: a scuffle broke out between Dumfries and Acuña, echoing their clash at the 2022 World Cup. Even Chivu had to step in from the bench to calm things down. Montiel was also sent off.
Chivu after the match:
“In the first half we struggled with their pressing, but in the second we occupied the pitch better and made the right plays. This win belongs to the team. Credit to Pio—today he showed he belongs at this level.”
Lineups:
INTER (3-5-2): Sommer; Darmian (82’ De Vrij), Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella (61’ Sucic), Asllani, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco (61’ Carlos Augusto); Lautaro (72’ V. Carboni), Pio Esposito (82’ S. Esposito). Coach: Chivu.
RIVER PLATE (4-2-3-1): Armani; Montiel, Martinez Quarta, Diaz, Acuña; Kranevitter (61’ Lanzini), Aliendro (61’ Costantini); Mastantuono, Meza (55’ I. Fernandez), Colidio (67’ Pezzella); Borja. Coach: Gallardo.
REFEREE: Tantashev (Uzbekistan).
GOALS: 71’ P. Esposito (I), 90+3’ Bastoni (I).
YELLOW CARDS: Montiel, Bastoni, Carlos Augusto, Lanzini, S. Esposito, Diaz, Pezzella, Dumfries.
RED CARDS: 66’ Martinez Quarta, 90+5’ Montiel.
Inter’s Situation
Chivu’s side tops the group with 7 points (2 wins, 1 draw), showing steady growth. They’ll face Fluminense, runners-up in Group F. Inter will be without Calhanoglu, Pavard, Zielinski, and Bisseck, all back in Milan recovering from injuries. Meanwhile, yesterday’s win and advancement have already secured the club over €36 million from this World Cup.
Urawa Reds–Monterrey 0–4
Monterrey didn’t miss a beat. By dismantling already-eliminated Urawa—and aided by Inter’s win over River—the Mexican side punched their ticket to the Round of 16. Up 3–0 by the 38th minute thanks to goals from Deossa, Berterame, and Corona, they dominated throughout and added a fourth in stoppage time, with Berterame completing his brace.
They now face Borussia Dortmund in what promises to be a thrilling Round of 16 match.
Borussia Dortmund–Ulsan Hyundai 1–0
In the final match of Group F, Borussia Dortmund got the job done with minimal effort: a 1–0 win over Ulsan courtesy of a goal by Svensson. The victory not only secured the three points but also top spot in the group.
The Germans showed mixed form in the group stage, struggling in attack and looking shaky in defense at times.
But what matters most is they’re through: they’ll meet Monterrey in Atlanta the night of July 2–3.
Mamelodi Sundowns–Fluminense 0–0
A draw was enough for Fluminense to book their place in the Round of 16. The 0–0 result in Miami against a spirited but toothless Mamelodi side secured qualification for the Brazilians, making them the fourth team from Brazil in the knockouts.
The South Africans played better in the first half and even hit the post through Cano, but couldn’t find the breakthrough.
Fluminense will now take on Inter in a match that promises fireworks.
Final Group Standings – Group Stage
GROUP E
| Team | Pts | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inter | 7 | 5 | 2 | +3 |
| Monterrey | 5 | 5 | 1 | +4 |
| River Plate | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Urawa Reds | 0 | 2 | 9 | -7 |
GROUP F
| Team | Pts | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borussia Dortmund | 7 | 5 | 3 | +2 |
| Fluminense | 5 | 4 | 2 | +2 |
| Mamelodi Sundowns | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Ulsan Hyundai | 0 | 2 | 6 | -4 |
Upcoming Round of 16 Matches:
• Inter vs Fluminense (June 30, Charlotte)
• Borussia Dortmund vs Monterrey (July 3, Atlanta)
