Seattle, USA – Inter Milan left it late but managed to claw their way to a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds at Lumen Field, keeping their FIFA Club World Cup hopes alive while sending the Asian champions crashing out of the tournament.

Backed by a passionate crowd of travelling supporters, Urawa Reds drew first blood early in the match. Ryoma Watanabe opened the scoring in the 11th minute, finishing off a swift attack after Takuro Kaneko carved open the Inter defense with a pacey run and low cross from the right.

The early goal had Urawa dreaming of an upset, especially as Inter struggled to convert possession into goals for much of the game. Lautaro Martinez, who also scored in Inter’s opening 1-1 draw against Mexico’s Monterrey, once again proved to be the difference. The Argentine captain brought the Italians level with 12 minutes left on the clock, executing a clever overhead kick from a Nicolò Barella corner.

Inter, managed by Cristian Chivu for the tournament, kept pressing as Urawa’s resistance wore down. Their persistence paid off deep into added time when 20-year-old Argentine midfielder Valentín Carboni, returning from injury and playing his first match in over two years, pounced on a loose ball inside the box to seal the win in the 92nd minute.

For Urawa Reds, the loss marks their second defeat of the tournament, following a 3-1 setback against River Plate, effectively ending their campaign.

The result puts Inter Milan in a favourable position to advance to the tournament’s last 16, while Urawa, the 2023 AFC Champions League winners, exit with a bitter sense of missed opportunity despite their spirited performances.

Carboni’s late strike was the final twist in a game that saw near-misses, including a Lautaro Martinez header that rattled the crossbar and a squandered chance from Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Inter now turns its attention to their next fixture with momentum on their side, while Urawa Reds will hope to salvage pride in their final outing.


By WafricNews Desk.