Brazil's Fluminense made history this Monday, June 30, defeating Italian powerhouse Inter Milan 2-0 at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The victory was thanks to goals from Germán Cano and Hércules, setting the Tricolor on the path to the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals following several impressive performances. Notable contributions came from Thiago Silva, Ignácio, Fábio, and Arias, among others.
The first goal came just three minutes into the match as Fluminense refused to give up on the right side, allowing Cano to score in his 200th game for the Tricolor. Inter began to take control of the game after falling behind, but they only managed to create a few good chances due to Fábio's defensive prowess.
The second half saw Fluminense again taking control of possession, with moments of more comfortable play from Inter. Substitutions from both teams brought fresh legs and additional creativity, but it was Fluminense who extended their lead at the 62nd minute thanks to a long-range effort from Jhon Arias, denied only by Sommer's fantastic save.
Inter pressed hard in the closing stages of the game, with De Vrij having a remarkable chance to score an incredible goal, but Fábio came up with a series of impressive saves to keep the score at 2-0. Lautaro Martínez, who had been quiet until then, became the great fear for the Tricolor, forcing Fábio into two good saves and hitting the left post.
Hércules scored the most important goal of his career at the 47th minute, sealing a historic performance and a well-deserved qualification for Fluminense. The team will face the winner of Manchester City vs. Al-Hilal, who will meet later this Monday (10 PM Brasília time).
This victory brings in an additional 13 million dollars, approximately R$ 70.9 million, increasing the Brazilian presence among the top eight teams in the world. Fluminense has already accumulated R$ 217.5 million in prize money so far.
The quarter-final clash will be next Friday, July 4, at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The winner will secure an additional 21 million dollars (R$ 114.5 million) and will face either Palmeiras or Chelsea in the semi-final.
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