Carboni late strike seals Inter Milan’s victory against Urawa Red in Club World Cup

Late strikes turn the tide as Japanese underdogs fall in Seattle

Inter Milan kept their Club World Cup dreams alive with a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds in Seattle, thanks to a stunning overhead kick from captain Lautaro Martinez and a stoppage-time finish from youngster Valentin Carboni.

Cristian Chivu’s side—still adjusting following Simone Inzaghi’s recent departure—found themselves behind early on after Ryoma Watanabe finished off a swift Urawa counter-attack in the 11th minute. Despite dominating possession, Inter struggled to convert their chances, with all nine of their first-half shots missing the target.

Martinez nearly equalised midway through the first half with a powerful header that rattled the crossbar, but Urawa held firm, staying compact in defence while threatening on the break. Watanabe missed a golden chance to double the lead midway through the second half, firing over from a five-on-three break.

Late Drama Secures Crucial Victory
Inter’s pressure finally paid off in the 77th minute when Martinez acrobatically volleyed home from a corner to draw his side level. As Urawa clung on for a point, substitute Carboni delivered the killer blow in the second minute of stoppage time, firing in from close range after a rebound to seal the win and send the Nerazzurri top of Group E.

Though Inter were far from their best for much of the match, the victory sparked emotional celebrations, underlining the importance of staying in the competition. Meanwhile, Urawa’s players were left heartbroken, their brave performance undone in the final minutes.

Key Performers and Stats
Martinez led by example with grit and determination, while Carboni made a memorable impact off the bench, scoring his first senior goal for the club. In midfield, Nicolo Barella was composed, and Kristjan Asllani looked lively despite an off-target night.

Urawa’s Watanabe and Kaneko provided pace and threat on the counter, though the former will rue the missed chance that could have sealed a famous victory.

Despite having just 18% possession and completing only 113 passes compared to Inter’s 746, Urawa made their four shots count—two of them on target. Inter, meanwhile, registered 26 attempts but hit the target just four times, needing every one of them to overcome a spirited Japanese side.

What Lies Ahead
With four points from two matches, Inter top their group and now prepare for a crucial clash with River Plate on Thursday (02:00 BST). Urawa, bottom of the group and out of the running for the last 16, will face Monterrey in their final match.