Fans and players also shed tears and lost to Urawa and Inter Milan 10→12 early elimination from the Club World Cup...Soccer is cruel
Jun 22, 2025
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Shusaku Nishigawa, the main goalkeeper of the Urawa Reds in the Japanese J-League, left a message after losing 1-2 to Inter Milan in the second group stage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Lumen Field in Seattle on the 22nd (Korea time).
Urawa took the lead with Watanabe Ryoma's surprise first goal in the 11th minute of the first half, but he gave Lautaro Martinez an equalizer with a bicycle kick in the 33rd minute of the second half. In the second minute of extra time in the second half, when the draw was on the horizon, he dedicated a come-from-behind goal to Valentin Carboni in a mixed game.
Urawa, who lost all two games, including a 1-3 defeat against River Platte in the first round, failed to advance to the round of 16, regardless of the results of the remaining one group match. Inter Milan, the runner-up in the European Champions League in the 2024-2025 season, lost a disappointing 1-1 draw against Monterrey in the first leg, but regained the lead in Group E with three points on the day and four points.
Nishigawa, who burst into tears after the game, said "Football is cruel. It's really frustrating," he said, shaking his head with regret. "Football is all about the result, so you have to fully accept the result." Some Urawa fans who visited the stadium shed tears.
Urawa gave up the lead throughout the game with an 18:82 possession rate and a 5:26 shooting rate. It was pushed above the score. In particular, in the second half, when the team led by one goal, it entered a mode of holding out with extreme defense, but finally gave up the goal.
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Coach Iskorsa Urawa said "I'm really proud of the way we played. The opponent played such a game against the best team in the world. I think it was a really difficult game, but did you play well enough to surprise the opposition in the first half?C", he self-praised.
Urawa will play the final group match against Monterey on the 26th.
Nishigawa should not waste this experience. You can't go back to Japan this way. I want to play the soccer we love to the fullest and move toward victory. We have nothing to lose."
Meanwhile, in the expanded and reorganized Club World Cup, Asian teams are unable to work side by side in front of the world's high walls. K-League champion Ulsan failed to advance to the round of 16 after losing two consecutive games to Mamelodi (0-1 loss) and Pluminense (2-4 losses) in Group F. Al-Hilal and Al-Ain have yet to declare victory.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
