Red cards and regret as River is eliminated by Inter Milan

River Plate’s Club World Cup dream ended in Seattle with a 2–0 loss to Inter Milan in a heated and chaotic group-stage finale. Needing at least a draw to keep hopes alive, River fell apart in the final 30 minutes, conceding twice and receiving two red cards in one of the most dramatic games of the tournament.

The first half was tight and tense, with both teams cautious. River came closest when Driussi tested Yann Sommer from distance, while Inter’s midfield trio of Mkhitaryan, Frattesi, and Asllani gradually gained control. The match turned in the 65th minute when Lucas Martínez Quarta fouled Mkhitaryan as the last man on a breakaway. The referee didn’t hesitate: straight red.

Down to ten men, River’s defense cracked. In the 72nd minute, 19-year-old Francesco Pio Esposito latched onto a through ball and finished cleanly past Armani, putting Inter in front. River pressed for an equalizer, leaving gaps at the back.

In stoppage time, Alessandro Bastoni rose above everyone to head in Inter’s second goal from a corner, killing the game. But the chaos wasn’t over. Gonzalo Montiel received a second yellow and was sent off in the 94th minute. Then, tempers exploded at the final whistle: Marcos Acuña chased Denzel Dumfries across the pitch, igniting a brawl involving players and staff from both sides.

With just four points from three games, River were officially eliminated. Coach Gallardo lamented the breakdown in discipline and composure. “We lost our focus when it mattered most. It’s a hard lesson,” he said. From early promise to a dramatic exit, River‘s Club World Cup run ended in disappointment. And controversy.