Inter and Dortmund held as Sundowns and River bag victory at CWC

Pasadena, June 19: The 39-year-old Spanish great Sergio Ramos scored as Monterrey held Inter Milan 1-1 in a hard-fought FIFA Club World Cup Group E opener in Pasadena on Tuesday.

Argentine striker Lautaro Martinez scored a well-worked equaliser to cancel out Ramos's 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 Ramos and Monterrey, who face Argentina's River Plate in their next game on Saturday. "When you don't get all three points you're never entirely happy," Ramos, the former Spain and Real Madrid defender, said. "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.” 

Inter coach Cristian Chivu said his team had struggled to break down a Monterrey team who sat deep for long periods. Chivu, in his first match in charge after the departure of Simone Inzaghi, 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."

River Plate ease past Urawa 

River Plate overcame a spirited Urawa Red Diamonds 3-1 on Tuesday to make a strong start in Club World Cup Group E. The Argentine 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. 

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

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.

Matsuo pulled the Red Diamonds back into the game from the penalty spot after Acuna's ungainly mistimed barge on Takuro Kaneko, sending Armani the wrong way.

Maximiliano Meza put the game to bed for River with a header from Acuna's corner after he was left unmarked.

Sundowns edge Ulsan

Mamelodi Sundowns got off to a winning start at the Club World Cup with a 1-0 victory over South Korean side Ulsan HD on Tuesday in a match delayed by a weather warning and played before largely empty stands.

The South African side went top of Group F in front of a crowd given as 3,412. 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.

It was also their first victory in any version of the Club World Cup, after they lost both their matches in their only prior appearance, in 2016.

Dortmund held

Borussia Dortmund were held to a 0-0 draw by Fluminense at the Club World Cup on Tuesday, as Brazilian teams maintained their unbeaten record so far in the competition.

Rio de Janeiro powerhouses Fluminense were the more dangerous team throughout the Group F game played at the Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, just outside New York City.

However, Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel turned a Jhon Arias shot around the post in the first half, before Matheus Martinelli drilled an effort narrowly wide.

Fluminense -- captained by 40-year-old former Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea defender Thiago Silva -- were a threat on the break throughout and should have scored at the end of a counter midway into the second half, but Agustin Canobbio shot straight at Kobel.

The Dortmund goalkeeper then produced a fine save low down to deny Everaldo as the match ended in stalemate. Fluminense qualified for the tournament by virtue of their triumph in the Copa Libertadores in 2023.