PASADENA, UNITED STATES, JUNE 18 (AFP/APP/DNA):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.
“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,” Chivu 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, 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.”
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