FIFA Club World Cup Updates

PASADENA: In a FIFA Club World Cup Group E match held at the Rose Bowl Stadium on Tuesday, Inter Milan and Mexican side Monterrey concluded their opening game with a 1-1 draw, marked by a goal from Sergio Ramos.

Match Highlights

Monterrey, considered the underdogs, took an early lead. Veteran defender Ramos, aged 39, showcased his aerial prowess by heading in a corner kick in the 25th minute, towering over two defenders.

Inter responded later in the first half. Lautaro Martinez found the net following a free-kick by Kristjan Asllani, who was assisted in the box by Carlos Augusto.

Monterrey’s Nelson Deossa had an opportunity to secure a win for his team during stoppage time. However, his shot only hit the side netting.

Statements from Inter Milan

Inter’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan commented on the match, acknowledging missed opportunities. He stated, “I believe we had chances to score a second goal, which unfortunately didn’t happen.”

He further added, “This is football. We need to keep working hard and give our best in the upcoming matches. It’s a fresh competition, and all teams are highly motivated to advance from the group stage.”

Mkhitaryan emphasized the need for greater aggression in front of the goal, saying, “We need to be more aggressive and score more. We had opportunities today that we didn’t convert.”

Managerial Debuts

The game marked the first competitive encounter for both team managers.

Cristian Chivu succeeded Simone Inzaghi at Inter Milan after their defeat in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain with a score of 5-0. Meanwhile, Domenec Torrent from Spain was appointed at Monterrey following a less-than-ideal start to their season.

Additional Matches

In other news, River Plate initiated their Club World Cup journey with a 3-1 victory against Urawa Red Diamonds, with goals contributed by Facundo Colidio, Sebastian Driussi, and Maxi Meza.

Additionally, Mamelodi Sundowns F.C., a South African club, triumphed over Ulsan Hyundai with a score of 1-0 in a Group F match, with Iqraam Rayner scoring the decisive goal.