The red was the warning for Esposito to deliver the fatal jab

A clash of titans between two historic teams. The first ever match between Inter Milan and River Plate was a high-stakes affair, with qualification for the round of 16 of the Club World Cup at stake. After a draw against Monterrey in the opening round (1-1), the Nerazzurri were almost taken by surprise by Urawa Red Diamonds, only managing to win in added time (2-1). Far from the level they showed at the end of last season, which earned them a place in the Champions League final, the Italians faced a tough battle for qualification, as the millionaires performed well against the Japanese (3-1) and the Mexicans (0-0). Winning and securing first place was the objective of both teams.

#FIFAWorldCup champs face off in Seattle…

A taste of Argentina in #FIFACWC Group E. ???????? pic.twitter.com/daCU9QxPLQ

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“We are expecting a tough game, just like the previous two. These teams have ambitions, they want to show their worth and they always make life difficult for us on the pitch. The physical condition of the American teams is better than that of the European ones, as they have just finished long runs of games. It is never easy, but we will face this challenge and try to find the best mental and physical energy. I have great respect for Gallardo, he is incredible. He was important as a player and he is a very good coach. He achieved great results at River Plate. What I can say about River is that they are a good team, they have players who have played in European football, as well as world champions. River is part of the history of South American football and we admire them”, said Cristian Chivu.

“We knew how to take advantage of the opportunity. We won our debut with authority and we also deserved to win the following match. Tomorrow [Wednesday], I hope we make smart choices, that our efficiency returns and that the team plays well, because it is crucial to put in a very strong performance to have a chance. Our opponents are aware that they will face a tough team. We need to be decisive and defend firmly against a team that attacks with so many players. That needs to be the basis of our game plan. We have to rebuild ourselves and see how we prepare. I see the glass half full. We will play the third match with the best we have”, predicted Marcelo Gallardo.

Club World Cup: Inter Milan vs River Plate

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With yet another Argentine invasion of North American territory, now back in Seattle, and which even allowed them to celebrate Benfica's goal that eliminated rivals Boca Juniors from the competition, Chivu once again had Denzel Dumfries in the starting eleven, after the winger had recovered from injury. In addition to the Dutchman, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni and Henrikh Mkhitaryan returned to the team, with Luis Henrique, Stefan de Vrij, Carlos Augusto and Nicola Zalewski sitting on the bench. Muñeco Gallardo opted to put Matías Kranevitter and Rodrigo Aliendro in place of the suspended Enzo Pérez and Giuliano Galoppo. Up front, Miguel Borja was an option over Kevin Castaño.

The match started evenly and evenly in midfield, with the first chance coming from Kristjan Asllani, who received the ball inside the box and shot over (11'). In response, Franco Mastantuono tried his luck from outside the box, but Yann Sommer saved the ball (12'). In the most obvious opportunity of the first half, Nicolò Barella broke through the defence on the right and took a low cross back into the box, where Franceso Esposito appeared to finish towards goal, with Martínez Quarta cutting in with his body and preventing the goal (26'). Shortly afterwards, Lautaro Martínez entered the box from the left and attempted a cross, but the ball went wide (31'). With this result at half-time, the Italians were second and the Argentines were on the brink of elimination (0-0).

In the second half, Inter Milan showed a different attitude and, in the first few minutes, Lautaro hit the post with a shot that was blocked by former Sporting player Marcos Acuña (51'). In the next move, Federico Dimarco sent the ball just inches wide of the goal (52') and Lautaro, after dribbling past Quarta, shot for a great save by Franco Armani (54'). In response, Facundo Colidio appeared completely alone in the area to finish a cross from the left, but his header was weak and ended up in the hands of Sommer (64'). After a vertical pass from Dumfries behind the defence, Martínez Quarta failed to control it and allowed Mkhitaryan to break through. The Armenian received the ball, went for goal, but ended up tripped by the Argentine international, who was immediately sent off (66').

The Nerazzurri immediately capitalised on their numerical superiority, with Petar Sucic receiving the ball inside the box, unmarked, and laying it off low to Francesco Esposito who, after turning and getting past Paulo Díaz, fired in the opener (72'). Sucic then found Mkhitaryan who, after getting past Armani, shot over the bar with the goal wide open (90'). Shortly afterwards, captain Bastoni made a run up the pitch, got past two Argentine defenders and, from the edge of the box, fired in a shot for the second goal (90+3'). Before the final whistle, Gonzalo Montiel was sent off and Acuña was involved in a clash with Dumfries, being held back by practically all his teammates.

Esposito to receive > rotate > shoot.

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Bastoni confirms Inter in the round of 16.

???? @FIFACWC | @Inter 2×0 @RiverPlate @FIFACWC | 14 June – 13 July | Watch all the games for free at https://t.co/fpfuiyzIoG | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld

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The pearl

• After a successful season at Spezia, in which he scored 19 goals and provided three assists in 40 games, Federico Esposito returned to Inter Milan to establish himself as the main replacement for Marcus Thuram, who had accumulated fatigue towards the end of the season and was only used in Inter Milan's first game in this Club World Cup. The task was not easy for the young Italian, who was not intimidated. Esposito was decisive on Thursday but, above all, he showed that he has all the conditions to be part of the Nerazzurri squad next season.

• If Esposito's youth helped seal Inter Milan's qualification for the next round, Henrikh Mkhitaryan 's veteran status made an important contribution. At 36, the Armenian international continues to fill the pitch and show a stamina that rarely runs out. He was important in attack, appearing in finishing areas to set up his teammates, but he was also decisive off the ball, conditioning River Plate's midfielders and supporting their defense. Age is just a number. After all, Mkhitaryan played an extra 90 minutes and could have sealed the victory at the end.

• With this victory, Inter Milan earned an additional 1.8 million euros but, above all, secured their place in the round of 16 of the Club World Cup, in first place, ahead of Monterrey. The Nerazzurri will now face Fluminense. River Plate will bow out of the competition.

• In a duel with a lot at stake, it was expected that Chivu and Gallardo's strategy and defensive stance would come to the fore, but that was not what happened. Although the first half was much more closed than the second, both teams tried everything to score an early goal that would allow them to calm down. The match ended with just two goals, one of them after the 90th minute, but it did not lose any of its spectacular quality.