By Sachit Subba • Football • Jun 26, 2025 04:10 AM • 67 views
Monterrey delivered a blistering statement of intent at the Rose Bowl on Wednesday night, dismantling Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds 4-0 to storm into the last 16 of the Club World Cup. The emphatic result secured second place in Group E behind Inter Milan and set up a high-stakes showdown with Borussia Dortmund in Atlanta on Tuesday. In a ruthless first-half display, the Liga MX giants tore through a stunned Urawa side with three goals in just eight minutes—each more spectacular than the last.
Nelson Deossa opened the floodgates on the half-hour with an audacious 35-yard screamer that swerved wickedly past a hapless Shusaku Nishikawa. It was a goal that ignited the Monterrey faithful and flattened Urawa's already fading hopes. Four minutes later, German Berterame doubled the advantage, calmly slotting home after a clever slip pass from Alfonso Alvarado. The Japanese defence, momentarily frozen, watched Monterrey's sharp movement rip them apart.
The third, just three minutes later, was pure artistry. Veteran Jesús "Tecatito" Corona unleashed a thunderbolt from 30 yards that dipped viciously into the top corner—an exclamation point in a first-half Monterrey masterclass.
Urawa, already eliminated after back-to-back defeats, had moments to claw back into the match. Yusuke Matsuo fluffed a golden chance early on when his poor first touch allowed Ricardo Chávez to recover and snuff out the danger. Ryoma Watanabe's late free-kick soared harmlessly over, summing up a night where nothing fell in their favour.
The second half saw Monterrey ease off the throttle, with Nishikawa producing a handful of key saves to prevent further embarrassment. Yet there was still time for one final flourish. In the seventh minute of stoppage time, Berterame pounced on a loose ball inside the box and stabbed it home for his second and Monterrey's fourth. With Inter Milan beating River Plate 2-0 in Seattle, Monterrey leapfrogged the Argentinians into second place, their six points enough to book a date with Dortmund—a mouth-watering North America vs. Europe clash that promises fireworks. For Urawa, the campaign ends in disappointment, their return to the Club World Cup proving unforgiving. For Monterrey, momentum is building. With Deossa pulling strings, Corona providing magic, and Berterame clinical in front of goal, Los Rayados have the tools—and confidence—to dream bigger.
