Inter Milan staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds 2-1 at the FIFA Club World Cup in Seattle. With the game slipping toward a draw, 20-year-old Valentin Carboni, returning from a long injury layoff, emerged as the unlikely hero.
His stoppage-time goal not only secured Inter’s victory but also knocked Urawa out of the competition. Urawa Reds had started the game with impressive energy and purpose, buoyed by a loud and passionate fan base at Lumen Field. Ryoma Watanabe struck early, converting a cross from Takuro Kaneko to put the Asian champions ahead in just the 11th minute.
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That goal gave Urawa hope of recovering from their previous 3-1 defeat against River Plate, but it would prove to be short-lived. Despite early frustration and missed opportunities including a header off the crossbar from captain Lautaro Martinez Inter kept the pressure on.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan wasted a clear chance to equalize in the second half, casting doubt over whether the UEFA Champions League runners-up could escape an upset. But with 12 minutes left, Martinez rose again, this time executing a stunning overhead finish off a Nicolo Barella corner.
The late equalizer reenergized the Italian side, and with the match drifting into stoppage time, the breakthrough finally came. Petar Sucic’s shot ricocheted off a teammate and fell kindly to Carboni, who calmly side-footed the ball into the net. For Carboni, who hadn’t played for Inter in over two years due to injury and loan spells, it was a moment of personal and professional triumph.
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Inter coach Cristian Chivu praised his squad’s character, while Martinez emphasized the need for humility and determination to match the spirit of teams like Urawa. The victory places Inter in a strong position to qualify for the tournament’s knockout rounds, while Urawa, suffering their second straight loss, are now eliminated from contention.
For Urawa Reds and coach Maciej Skorza, the result was a bitter pill. “Our emotion is very bad after this game,” Skorza admitted. “Now we can only fight in the last game to achieve our one and only win.” Despite their early promise and strong fan support, the Japanese side must now turn their focus to salvaging pride in their final match.
