Inter Send AC Milan Packing In Heated Derby
27 January, 2021
Coppa Italia
Result: Inter Milan 2-1 AC Milan
Date: 26 January 2021
Venue: San Siro
Inter Milan booked their spot in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia with a good 2-1 win over ten-man AC Milan in a good heated Milan derby on Tuesday evening.
Inter recalled Alexis Sanchez, Ivan Perisic, Matteo Darmian and Aleksandr Kolarov as the Rossoneri resisted the temptation to partner new signing Mario Mandzukic with Zlatan Ibrahimovic upfront, while the Crotian surprisingly did not help to make the squad after approaching off the bench in a 3-0 defeat to Atalanta.
After a slow commence to the half, AC were practically punished by Romelu Lukaku in the 24th minute after he cut inside onto his favoured still left foot inside the field and forced a good save out of goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu with a minimal effort.
Seven minutes afterwards, Ibrahimovic finally broke the deadlock for the Rossoneri against the run of play after obtaining a move from Soualiho Meite before firing house with a low strike.
Antonio Conte's charges were thrilled to have the equaliser in the closing phase, with thoughts boiling up nonetheless they could not create clear chances. There is a heated moment at the half as Lukaku and Ibrahimovic had to be separated pursuing an earlier incident.
Conte's men received a lifeline right before the hour-mark following the Rossoneri were reduced to ten men following a second booking for Ibrahimovic, who was simply sent off for a foul on Kolarov.
Inter's pressure and numerical advantage paid off within the last 19 minutes, because they were awarded a good penalty for a foul on Nicolo Barella in the box after the referee reviewed his decision on Video Assistant Referee (VAR) monitor, which allowed Lukaku to slot residence the equaliser.
In a strange turn of events, the referee sustained a personal injury in the last 13 minutes and despite getting treatment on the sidelines, he cannot continue and was substituted by the fourth official.
Inter were threatening to get the winner in the dying minutes and Lautaro Martinez had a big chance for them within the last minute after racing clear inside box but he was denied by Tatarusanu, in a good one-on-one situation.
However, Christian Eriksen finally got the clinching goal for Conte's troops in the eighth minute of stoppage period with a sublime free-kick from 25-yards away to send Inter to the semi-finals.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za
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