Club World Cup 2025: Sundowns and River Plate Shine, Monterey hold Inter Milan
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 kicked off with electrifying matches that saw Mamelodi Sundowns and River Plate secure impressive victories, marking a historic day for African football.
In a thrilling encounter, Mamelodi Sundowns FC made history by scoring the first victory for a CAF club in the tournament, defeating Ulsan HD 1-0. Iqraam Rayners was the star of the match, showcasing his talent with a stunning outside-of-the-boot finish after a well-placed through-ball from Lucas Ribeiro. Despite facing an hour-long weather delay, Sundowns demonstrated resilience and skill, placing them at the top of Group F.
Meanwhile, River Plate showcased their dominance in Group E by overpowering Urawa Red Diamonds 3-1. The match featured three powerful headed goals, with Facundo Colidio opening the scoring before halftime. After the break, Sebastian Driussi and Maximiliano Meza added to the tally, ensuring a comfortable victory for Los Millonarios.
In a closely contested match, CF Monterrey and FC Internazionale Milano played to a 1-1 draw. Monterrey took the lead with a header from Sergio Ramos, but Lautaro Martinez equalized for Inter, keeping both teams in contention for the knockout stage. Monterrey nearly clinched the win, but Sergio Canales hit the post with a long-range strike.
In another match, Fluminense FC and Borussia Dortmund battled to a scoreless draw at MetLife Stadium. The Brazilian side had several chances, but were thwarted by the impressive performance of Dortmund’s goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. Fluminense felt they could have taken all three points, adding tension to their group.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on the remaining fixtures. Tomorrow’s matches feature Manchester City against Wydad AC, Real Madrid facing Al Hilal, and Juventus squaring off against Al Ain FC, promising more thrilling action.
