Inter Milan Defeats River Plate 2-0, Advances Club World Cup Round of 16

Inter Milan secured a 2-0 victory over River Plate in their final FIFA Club World Cup group stage match, with goals from Francesco Pio Esposito and Alessandro Bastoni, ensuring top spot in Group E and progression to the Round of 16 against Fluminense. The match saw River Plate reduced to nine men after Lucas Martinez Quarta received a red card and Gonzalo Montiel was sent off late, which helped Inter capitalize late in the game. Esposito, a 19-year-old prospect, scored his first goal for Inter with a composed finish following a through ball from Petar Sucic, who also contributed an assist off the bench. Inter improved significantly in the second half after a goalless first half, dominating with key performances from Bastoni and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. River Plate, needing a win to advance, were ultimately eliminated due to this loss combined with Monterrey's win, marking a disappointing end to their Club World Cup campaign. Inter coach Cristian Chivu's strategic use of the Esposito brothers paid off, as Francesco Pio’s impact was pivotal in securing the win and the team's unbeaten group stage record.