The Brazilian club Fluminensee moved into the quarter-finals of the club World Cup by winning against Inter Milan. Also because the 44 -year -old goalkeeper was in top shape.
An early goal by German Cano (3rd) and a late from Hercules in the fourth minute of injury time ensured the 2-0 win.
All four Brazilian teams had made it through the group phase. At least one would also make it into the quarter -finals, which was clear because of the direct duel between Palmeiras and Botafogo.
Palmeiras continued through a 1-0 win, Flamengo then resigned 2: 4 against FC Bayern Munich a day later.
With the game between Fluminense and Inter Milan, the last duel between a South American and European team was in the round of 16. The winner of the Copa Libertadores met the finalists of the Champions League of 2025, who was humiliated with 0: 5 by Paris Saint-Germain in the final in Munich.
Fans of fluminense create a reasonable mood
The stadium in Charlotte was again far too big, and there were many gaps even in the scenes. But the fans of Fluminense from Rio de Janeiro made some mood.
They quickly got in a better mood after the kick -off, because their team took the lead in the third minute. After a deflected flank, the central defenders lost their orientation, the Argentinian German Cano took advantage of this and headed Yann Sommer through his legs from three meters.
Fábio Top at 44 years
The Swiss goalkeeper is 36 years old. It happens that the opponent’s goalkeeper is older, but eight years difference is extraordinary.
1997 world champion with the U17, 2025 in the quarter-finals of the club World Cup: Fábio
Fábio will be 45 years old on September 30th. He contested more than 1,300 players as a professional, was still world champion with the Brazilian U17 in the old millennium. One of his teammates was Ronaldinho at the time.
Strong reflex against Lautaro Martinez
Fábio continues to do his work well, he showed that against Inter. In the eleventh minute he fended off a shot from Federico Dimarco, in the 82nd one by Lautaro Martinez, with a magnificent reflex.
A short time later he was lucky, because a shot from Martinez crashed into the post., Much to the delight of the fans of Fluminense, who were allowed to cheer after seven minutes of stoppage time that it made a second team into the quarter-finals of the club World Cup.