Inter Miami Eliminates River Plate from Club World Cup

SEATTLE, USA — River Plate was eliminated from the Club World Cup after losing 2-0 to Inter Milan in their final group match on June 25, 2025. Goals from Pío Espósito and Alessandro Bastoni secured Inter Milan’s spot in the knockout round.

River Plate, under the leadership of coach Marcelo Gallardo, needed a win to advance but struggled throughout the match, facing difficulties early on. The loss came just a day after River had secured their first win against Urawa Red Diamonds.

Tempers flared briefly in the first half when Lautaro Martínez, captain of Inter, clashed with River’s Lucas Martínez Quarta. The altercation arose after Martínez Quarta fouled Martínez near the edge of the penalty area. The referee, Ilgiz Tantashev of Uzbekistan, intervened to calm the situation.

Despite the heated moment, the match continued without further incidents until the second half when River lost a player due to a red card. Martínez Quarta received a red card after a reckless challenge on Henrij Mkhitaryan, leaving River at a numerical disadvantage.

With River Plate down to ten players, Inter capitalized in the 72nd minute when Francesco Esposito scored the opening goal. Martínez, who played a significant role in Inter’s play, expressed disappointment after being substituted later in the match. The River fans, despite their team’s defeat, applauded him for his efforts on the field.

This marked a disappointing end to River Plate’s campaign in the tournament, finishing with a total of one win and one draw in the group stage. As Inter Milan celebrates their advancement, River will now focus on future competitions.