Inter Miami are facing Palmeiras in a decisive Group A match at the FIFA Club World Cup. One of the Brazilian players had said he would celebrate like Cristiano Ronaldo if he managed to score. However, things didn’t turn out well for him.
Before the match, Murilo spoke to the press and confirmed that, between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, his favorite is the Portuguese forward—so much so that he promised to imitate CR7’s celebration if he scored against the Herons. But his time on the field was cut short, as he was subbed off with an injury in the 16th minute.
In that moment of the first half, Luis Suarez played a pass to Tadeo Allende just past the halfway line, and the Argentine winger found himself in full control of the ball with a wide open field ahead of him. He took full advantage of the situation, sprinting at full speed toward the opposing goal, forcing Murilo to chase him down desperately.
That effort proved futile for the defender, as Allende entered the box and scored the opener with a composed right-footed finish. And that wasn’t all—Murilo felt pain that prevented him from continuing his run during the play, requiring immediate attention from Palmeiras’ medical staff after the goal. He was eventually forced to leave the match and was replaced by Bruno Fuchs.
Tough start for Palmeiras
The start of the match against Inter Miami fell short of expectations for the Brazilian side. They struggled to display their usual level of play and quickly found themselves trailing—a result that could prove costly and even lead to elimination, depending on what happens in the match between Porto and Al Ahly.
On top of that, losing Murilo is a major setback for Palmeiras. The 28-year-old defender had been a key figure throughout the Club World Cup, playing the full 90 minutes in the previous matches against Porto and Al Ahly. Without him, there’s no doubt the team’s defensive structure will be affected.