By Sachit Subba • Football • Jun 22, 2025 02:02 AM • 89 views
SEATTLE — On a tense night at Lumen Field that nearly witnessed a major Club World Cup shock, Inter Milan pulled off a dramatic escape act, rallying from behind to defeat Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds 2-1 and keep their Group E campaign alive.
For 77 long minutes, the Serie A powerhouse—last season's UEFA Champions League runners-up—looked rattled, outmatched, and dangerously close to an early exit. Urawa, poised and fearless, took the game straight to the Italians and were rewarded early through Ryoma Watanabe, whose 11th-minute opener came after a blistering run and pinpoint cross from Takuro Kaneko down the right flank.
Inter, known for their structured buildup and defensive discipline, looked anything but. The Japanese side swarmed the midfield, played with infectious intensity, and forced the Nerazzurri into uncharacteristic errors. It was a performance that echoed Urawa's domestic dominance—fast, fearless, and fueled by purpose.
But champions don't fold easily. When they needed inspiration, it came from their captain and talisman.
In the 78th minute, Lautaro Martínez delivered a moment of sheer brilliance—a perfectly-timed bicycle kick off a corner that left the stadium gasping and Urawa's keeper rooted. The goal wasn't just an equalizer; it was a lifeline.
"We had to show our pride," Martínez said post-match. "We didn't want this situation, but we had to suffer to get the result in the end."
The comeback was complete in stoppage time, when 19-year-old Argentine prodigy Valentin Carboni pounced on a chaotic rebound inside the box, slotting home to give Inter a desperately needed victory—and a glimpse of the grit that defines tournament champions.
Turning Point:
Lautaro's acrobatic effort didn't just flip the scoreboard—it flipped the momentum. What had been a laboured, error-strewn Inter performance suddenly morphed into a high-pressure siege that Urawa struggled to contain in the final ten minutes.
What It Means:
The win lifts Inter out of the danger zone in Group E, but the warning signs remain. If they are to make a deep run in the tournament, Simone Inzaghi's men will need to tighten their transitions and rediscover their attacking rhythm from earlier in the season. As for Urawa, the defeat will sting—but pride is well-earned. They pushed one of Europe's elite to the brink and proved they belong on football's biggest club stage.
Up Next:
Inter face a crunch match to determine their quarterfinal fate, while Urawa will look to bounce back with the same spirit and speed that troubled the Italian giants. In a tournament already marked by surprises, Saturday night in Seattle served up another reminder: in the Club World Cup, reputations mean little—resilience means everything.
