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Fluminense pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the FIFA Club World Cup with the Brazilian outfit defeating Italian giants Inter Milan 2-0 in their Round of 16 clash.
German Cano’s third minute header and Hercules’ 93rd minute strike sealed the shock result, with Inter, who played in the UEFA Champions League final a little more than a month ago, sent packing from the United States.
Awaiting Fluminense in the quarter-finals will be the winner of English Premier League juggernaut Manchester City and Saudi side Al Hilal, which kicks off at 11am AEST on Tuesday, as the club from Rio de Janiero seek to continue their dream run.
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Fluminense went unbeaten in the group phase, defeating Korean side Ulsan HD and picking up important draws against group-topping Borussia Dortmund and South African club Mamelodi Sundowns.
The passion and success of the South American teams has been a feature of the Club World Cup so far and the Brazilian fans were once again in full voice at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Nervous energy based around the stadium for the 90 minutes between goals but when Hercules’ left-footed strike from the edge of the box rolled into the far corner, they went bananas.
“This is why you love football,” DAZN’s commentator said after Hercules’ goal to seal the win.
Not just on the pitch but off the pitch in the stands, supporters crying.
“That’s how much it means and they’ve deserved every bit of glory that they’re getting and every bit of glory that’s coming their way.
“Hercules with the finish and what a performance, they’ve had to deal with the pressure.
“They’ve had to deal with opportunities coming against them but when they get their chance to strike and to put themselves in the quarter-finals, Hercules, he does it.
“And it’s a Hercules performances from the team, and don’t they know it.”
Led by 40-year-old former AC Milan, PSG, Chelsea and Brazil defender Thiago Silva, Fluminense showed incredible resilience at the back.
Inter had more shots, 16 to 11, and had 68% possession but the Brazilian club walked away with a clean sheet, once again showing their defensive stinginess as they have conceded just two goals in four matches this tournament.
Captain Silva’s efforts were inspirational, sprinting to make tackles and deny Inter with the energy of a man half his age, and he told DAZN post-match that he came into the game under an injury cloud.
“I am very proud with my teammates,” Silva said.
“It is hard to play against Inter. They played the Champions League final. It’s not easy to play, too hot today to play football.
“The timing is no good, but Fluminense is a big team. We played very well. To win 2-0 against Inter is not easy.
“Ten days ago I had a hamstring so it was not easy to play today but I am very proud of our medical team.”
It is the latest victory for a Brazilian team against prestigious European opposition at the tournament in the United States, after Botafogo defeated PSG and Flamengo got the better of Chelsea in the group stage.
Inter came to the US off the back of their 5-0 defeat by PSG in the UEFA Champions League final at the end of May and with a new coach in Cristian Chivu.
They did not fully convince during the group stage despite topping their section and they found themselves trailing inside three minutes before only just over 20,000 fans at the Bank of America Stadium on another hot afternoon.
A cross from the Fluminense right by Jhon Arias took a deflection off Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni and the ball then bounced awkwardly before veteran Argentine striker Cano arrived to head in through the legs of goalkeeper Yann Sommer from close range.
Ignacio thought he had made it 2-0 before the interval, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside.
Sommer then tipped a fine curling strike by Arias around the post just after the hour mark, before Inter began to turn up the pressure in an attempt to avoid exiting the competition.
Stefan de Vrij prodded wide from close range after captain Lautaro Martinez had headed down a cross, and the latter then saw a fine shot on the turn from the edge of the box come back off an upright.
Martinez had also been denied by Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio moments earlier, and confirmation that it would not be Inter’s day arrived in stoppage time.
On as a substitute, Hercules pounced on a falling ball and drove into the box before firing low into the corner.
Federico Dimarco then hit the woodwork at the other end as Fluminense held out for the victory to keep South American hopes of glory at the tournament firmly alive.
