Inter Milan 2-1 Urawa Reds: Late Carboni goal ends night of frustration for Nerazzurri

Valentin Carboni scored a last-gasp winner to break Urawa Reds hearts and move Inter Milan to the top of Group E at the Club World Cup.

It looked like being an afternoon of frustration for the Serie A side, who toiled after falling behind to Ryoma Watanabe’s first-half opener in Seattle.

But Lautaro Martinez scored a spectacular equaliser with 12 minutes to go and Carboni’s scuffed effort deep into stoppage time settled a low-quality encounter and eliminated the Japanese side.

Late Drama and A Late GOAL!

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Inter bossed the first half, without creating a host of opportunities.

The chances they did have were squandered and they paid the price with Urawa ruthless in comparison despite spending much of the 45 minutes on the back foot.

The Nerazzurri started brightly and only two minutes had elapsed when Nicola Zalewski’s cross was inches away from Sebastian Esposito at the far post.

Inter continued to camp on the edge of the Urawa area only to be caught by a sucker punch after 11 minutes.

Watanabe stuns Inter

Takuro Kaneko beat his man down the right and his cut back was inch-perfect for Watanabe to sweep past Yann Sommer.

Inter weren’t having the run of the ball and another goalmouth scramble saw them fail to equalise four minutes after falling behind – Luis Henrique and Carlos Augusto denied.

Inter’s frustration was growing with Martinez next to come close with a header that crashed back off the crossbar.

The second half continued in a similar vein with Inter dominating the ball but only managing half chances.

Kristjan Asllani shot wide from the edge of the area while Federico Di Marco volleyed a trademark effort over the bar.

And, as they did in the first half, Urawa carried a threat on the counter.

They could have doubled their advantage after 69 minutes with a three-on-two break led by Watanabe. The forward ought to have played in a team-mate but opted to shoot and his effort flew over Sommer’s crossbar.

Martinez and Carboni have the final say

It was to prove a pivotal moment as Inter’s pressure finally told.

There did not seem that much danger when another corner flew into the Urawa area but Argentina star Martinez somehow produced an overhead kick that flew past goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa and the defenders on the line.

77′ LAUTARRRRRRRO! 🚲🐂🇦🇷

Incredible strike from Martínez and @Inter are level!

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It still looked like Urawa had done enough to gain a point – and give their boisterous fans something their commitment arguably deserved – only for a bobbling ball inside the area to fall right at the feet of Carboni and he placed a shot into the bottom left-hand corner.

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