Sergio Ramos gives Inter Milan a scare in Club World Cup stalemate

Monterrey's Sergio Ramos reacts during the Club World Cup match against Inter Milan. PHOTO: REUTERS

UPDATED Jun 18, 2025, 12:18 PM

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PASADENA – Spanish great Sergio Ramos may be 39, but he still managed to score as Monterrey held Inter Milan 1-1 in a hard-fought Club World Cup Group E opener in Pasadena on June 17.

Argentinian striker Lautaro Martinez scored a well-worked equaliser to cancel out Ramos’ opener for the Mexican side in front of 40,311 fans at the Rose Bowl.

Inter, playing their first game since being thrashed 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, were left ruing their failure to turn their dominance of possession and territory into goals.

But the draw was a boost for Monterrey, who face Argentina’s River Plate in their next game on June 21

“When you don’t get all three points you’re never entirely happy,” said Ramos, the former Spain and Real Madrid defender.

“But one point is better than no point.

“They were a tough opponent and have just played in the final of the Champions League. We were a little bit nervous but in the second half we stayed organised and kept the ball better.

“Now we need to think about the next game.”

Inter coach Cristian Chivu said his team had struggled to break down a Monterrey team who sat deep for long periods.

“We played well in the first half even though we went behind,” he said. “We could have attacked better in the second half. It’s not easy to play against a very low block.”

Chivu, in his first match in charge after the departure of Simone Inzaghi, also denied the Champions League finalists had underestimated the Mexicans.

“We respect every team we play and we knew what kind of team they were, we tried to do our best,” he said.

“Sometimes you get the best out of it, sometimes you don’t. We created a lot of chances. Football’s not won on paper.”

Inzaghi, meanwhile, said he gave his all to Inter before taking over at Al-Hilal earlier in June.

The Italian, speaking ahead of Al-Hilal’s first game at the Club World Cup against Real on June 18, said there could be no questions about his commitment to Inter during his time there.

“Today I heard all sorts of things, as has often happened during the four years I was at Inter,” he said.

“But it’s nothing compared to the good I received from the entire Inter world – I mean the fans, the management, the players, everyone at Inter.

“I know I’ll miss it – I’ll miss everything, even this – even the most unfair accusations that were made over these four years. But I was truly happy. I gave my all.”

Before the Inter-Monterrey clash, River Plate overcame a spirited Urawa Red Diamonds 3-1 to make a strong start in Group E.

The Argentinian side overpowered their Japanese opponents at Lumen Field under the Seattle sun, in an entertaining battle.

Under 12,000 fans attended the clash at the 69,000-capacity stadium but those who were there, many travelling from Japan and Argentina, created a vibrant atmosphere at both ends of the stadium.

“Thanks to all River fans, we knew it wasn’t going to be easy to get all the way to here, it’s a very long journey, there’s no direct flights,” said striker Facundo Colidio, who opened the scoring for River Plate.

“Nevertheless they made it, they were here and they were amazing with their support throughout the game... The venue was really tricky, it’s not close to Argentina.

“We needed to start the tournament like this and we knew we could do it, but it was a tough game like we knew it was going to be.”

Marcelo Gallardo’s River started the stronger and took the lead when Colidio powered a header home from former Sevilla defender Marcos Acuna’s cross.

New Real signing Franco Mastantuono almost created a second for River, with the 17-year-old teeing up Nacho Fernandez, but the midfielder’s drive flew narrowly off target.

The Red Diamonds, who won the Asian Champions League in 2022 to qualify as the only Japanese team at the tournament, shot themselves in the foot at the start of the second half.

Marius Hoibraaten sent a foolish back-header towards goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa, without noticing Sebastian Driussi sneaking in behind.

The striker bravely nodded home past the helpless stopper but hurt himself as he fell and had to be replaced.

Yusuke Matsuo pulled the Red Diamonds back into the game from the penalty spot, but Maximiliano Meza put the game to bed for River with a header from Acuna’s corner after he was left unmarked.

In another game, Mamelodi Sundowns got off to a winning start with a 1-0 victory over South Korean side Ulsan HD in a match delayed by a weather warning and played before largely empty stands.

Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso’s Mamelodi have won the South African top flight for eight consecutive seasons but finished as runners-up in the CAF Champions League final earlier in June.

They claimed victory through Iqraam Rayners’ first-half goal. AFP, REUTERS

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