Valentin Carboni emerged as Inter Milan’s unlikely hero on Saturday, netting a stoppage-time winner to seal a dramatic 2-1 victory over Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds and keep the Italian giants on course for a place in the Club World Cup last 16.
The thrilling finish unfolded at Seattle’s Lumen Field and marked a crushing blow for Urawa, whose hopes of advancing were extinguished after suffering their second straight defeat.
The Asian champions had raced into an early lead, with Ryoma Watanabe capitalizing on Takuro Kaneko’s clever wing play to fire home in the 11th minute. Backed by an energetic contingent of traveling fans, the Reds looked poised to cause an upset, especially as Inter struggled to convert their chances and saw Lautaro Martinez hit the crossbar with a header midway through the first half.
However, Inter, who were held to a 1-1 draw in their tournament opener against Mexico’s Monterrey, grew into the game and found the equalizer with just 12 minutes remaining.
Captain Lautaro Martinez, who had also scored against Monterrey, delivered again — this time with a stunning acrobatic finish. Rising to meet a Nicolo Barella corner, Martinez twisted mid-air and fired an overhead kick into the net to bring Inter back on level terms.
Still, it was Carboni, the 20-year-old Argentine, who stole the spotlight with the decisive goal in the 92nd minute. Returning to the pitch after a long injury layoff, and having not featured for Inter in over two years, Carboni pounced on a fortunate rebound inside the box after a Petar Sucic shot deflected off Francesco Esposito. With poise and precision, he side-footed the ball past the keeper to secure all three points for Cristian Chivu’s side.
After the game, Martinez acknowledged the gritty performance from Urawa, saying, “Our opponents play with their hearts, and to counter that, we need to play with more pride, be humble, and know how to suffer.”
For Urawa, it was a bitter ending to what had promised to be a spirited tournament showing. After losing 3-1 to River Plate in their first match, they needed a win or at least a draw to remain in contention.
Their coach, Maciej Skorza, expressed disappointment, saying, “Our emotion is very bad after this game. We are out of the tournament, so now we can only fight in the last game to achieve our one and only win.”
Despite the early lead, the Japanese side couldn’t maintain their momentum, and Inter’s European pedigree ultimately told. Henrikh Mkhitaryan missed a golden opportunity earlier in the second half that might have spared Inter from the late drama, but the Nerazzurri persevered and were rewarded with a crucial win that now puts them in a strong position ahead of their final group game.
For Carboni, whose recent loan spell at Marseille was interrupted by a serious knee injury, the goal signified more than just three points — it marked a triumphant return to competitive action.
What you should know
Valentin Carboni, making his first appearance for Inter Milan in over two years, scored a 92nd-minute winner to complete a comeback against Urawa Red Diamonds. The win keeps Inter’s Club World Cup hopes alive, while the Japanese side are now eliminated after two straight defeats.
