The FIFA Club World Cup delivered a dramatic mix of results on Tuesday, with South American giants River Plate opening their campaign with an emphatic win, while European heavyweights Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan were held to disappointing draws.
River Plate Begin with Commanding Victory
Argentina’s River Plate kicked off their Group E journey in style, recording a solid 3-1 win over Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds in Seattle.
The Buenos Aires-based club showed their attacking strength from the outset. Facundo Colidio netted the opening goal with a strong header, capitalizing on an accurate cross from Marcos Acuna.
Sebastian Driussi doubled the lead shortly after, taking advantage of a defensive mistake by Urawa. The Japanese side pulled one back through a penalty by Yusuke Matsuo, but River Plate regained their two-goal advantage when substitute Maximiliano Meza scored with another header, this time from an Acuna corner.
Manager Marcelo Gallardo noted that while the win was crucial, the team still had improvements to make. He pointed out that nerves had affected their performance, but stressed that the upcoming fixtures would be more challenging and the team needed to prepare accordingly.
European Sides Struggle to Gain Momentum
Elsewhere, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan both encountered early stumbling blocks. Dortmund faced Brazil’s Fluminense in New Jersey, where the match ended in a goalless draw.
Fluminense appeared to be the more threatening side throughout the contest, but Dortmund’s goalkeeper Gregor Kobel delivered a series of key saves to keep his side level.
Fluminense midfielder Jhon Arias felt his team had shown their quality and believed they would prove tough opponents for any team in the tournament. He added that their dominant display gave the squad added confidence moving forward.
Later in the day, Inter Milan were held to a 1-1 draw by Monterrey at the Rose Bowl. Sergio Ramos opened the scoring for the Mexican side with a header from a corner.
Inter’s Lautaro Martinez equalized just before the break. Despite dominating possession in the second half, the Italians were unable to break down Monterrey’s disciplined defense.
Sundowns Edge Ulsan in Tight Contest
In Orlando, South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns narrowly defeated South Korea’s Ulsan 1-0. Iqraam Rayners scored the only goal of the match in the first half, finishing calmly after a precise assist from Lucas Ribeiro.
Manager Miguel Cardoso acknowledged the effort required, suggesting that the team had used their energy efficiently in a demanding contest.
With several teams showing promise, the tournament is already shaping up to be a fiercely competitive race for the Club World Cup crown.