Inter 2-0 River Plate: Esposito and Bastoni secure top spot - Soccer News

[ad_1] Inter scored twice late on to safe a 2-0 victory over nine-man River Plate to qualify for the Membership World Cup’s spherical of 16 as Group E winners.

They had been set to go by means of as runners-up, however Francesco Pio Esposito and Alessandro Bastoni netted necessary targets within the second half.

There was little high quality on present within the first half because the groups had a mixed one shot heading in the right direction, however Inter improved after the break, with Lautaro Martinez poking a shot towards the proper publish 51 minutes in, earlier than Franco Armani denied him with a smothering save simply moments later.

Lucas Martinez Quarta was then proven a straight crimson card within the 66th minute after sliding in because the final man on the again of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, which opened some much-needed house for Inter.

Petar Sucic slid a stunning throughball into Esposito within the field, and the 19-year-old coolly stepped away from his marker to information his first Inter objective into the bottom-right nook.

Mkhitaryan then blazed a shot over whereas one-on-one with Armani earlier than Bastoni left out two sliding challenges to fireplace the objective that sealed all three factors underneath the goalkeeper in stoppage time.

Gonzalo Montiel then acquired a second yellow card within the ninety fifth minute for dissent, marking a disappointing finish to the Membership World Cup for River.

Inter undergo as group winners on seven factors, having loved an unbeaten group stage, and can face Fluminense within the final 16.

In the meantime, Monterrey certified as group runners-up; having drawn their first two matches, the Mexican aspect recorded a 4-0 win over Urawa Reds within the remaining recreation to leapfrog River into second.

Spherical of 16! #ForzaInter #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld pic.twitter.com/5cTf7GPBzD

— Inter (@Inter) June 26, 2025

Information Debrief: Esposito shines for Inter

Esposito had by no means featured for Inter earlier than the Membership World Cup, however he has settled into the aspect properly underneath Cristian Chivu.

Amongst gamers with at the very least one objective and one help within the competitors, solely Jobe Bellingham (September 2005) is youthful than Esposito (June 2005).

Inter had been scientific; after failing to register a shot heading in the right direction within the first half, that they had simply three within the second, however scored with two. They completed with 2.04 anticipated targets (xG) general, in comparison with River’s 0.59.