Inter Milan 2-3 AC Milan: Rossoneri mount incredible comeback to defeat Nerazzurri and lift Supercoppa Italiana title
AC Milan staged a remarkable comeback from a two-goal deficit to triumph over their local rivals, Inter Milan, with a score of 3-2 in the Supercoppa Italiana final held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Tammy Abraham's dramatic late goal secured Sérgio Conceição his inaugural trophy as the club's manager, achieved in just his second match in charge.
Inter Milan had previously secured a 2-0 victory against Atalanta BC in the semi-finals, positioning them on the verge of making history. However, they first needed to overcome their local adversaries, who had advanced to this final by defeating Juventus 2-1 in their initial match under Sérgio Conceição.
In the early stages of the match, the Nerazzurri appeared to dominate as their opponents struggled to adapt to the new managerial setup. Nevertheless, clear scoring opportunities were scarce, with Mehdi Taremi's header going wide from a Nicolò Barella cross and a crucial save by Mike Maignan denying a powerful shot from Federico Dimarco being the best chances for the hosts.
At the opposite end, Tijjani Reijnders nearly found the net after maneuvering space in the box, but his attempt went wide of the post.
A significant moment in the first half was the injury to Hakan Çalhanoğlu, who had to be substituted shortly after the hour mark, with Kristjan Asllani taking his place.
However, just before half-time, captain Lautaro Martínez put Inter ahead following a swift sequence involving Dimarco, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and Taremi. After receiving the ball in a favorable position within the box, the Argentine skillfully cut inside and finished into the corner, showcasing the precise finishing that has established him as a key player for his team over the years.
Conceding so close to the interval could have undermined Milan's fragile confidence, and within two minutes of the second half, they found themselves two goals down. A brilliant pass from Stefan de Vrij sliced through the Rossoneri defense, allowing Taremi to maintain his composure and slot the ball past Maignan.
Despite the fluctuations in their performance, this Milan team possesses significant talent, and they quickly managed to narrow the gap.
Rafael Leão's advance towards the goal was halted illegally at the edge of the penalty area, leading to Théo Hernández converting a free-kick into the bottom corner.
The match then transformed into a back-and-forth contest, with Christian Pulisic directing a header straight at Yann Sommer from a threatening position, while Alessandro Bastoni intervened to block Reijnders' attempt at scoring as Milan began to pose a greater threat.
Álvaro Morata was the next to challenge Sommer, who demonstrated remarkable agility to deflect the shot away from the goal.
Gradually, Inter regained control of the match as Maignan saved a low shot from Lautaro. However, just when it seemed they had withstood Milan's pressure, the game took an unexpected turn.
Pulisic, who had scored in the victory against Juventus, found the net again, marking his second goal in as many matches by striking into the bottom corner from approximately 10 yards out.
Denzel Dumfries squandered two excellent chances to secure victory for Inter, and those missed opportunities proved pivotal as Milan capitalized in the final moments through Abraham, who tapped in Leão's pass into an unguarded net.
Following a mixed 2024 season, Milan has commenced 2025 in an optimal fashion, now enjoying bragging rights over their rivals after winning the last two encounters. Conversely, Inter will be left feeling deeply disappointed to lose in such a manner, particularly when the trophy seemed within their grasp.
SportsLigue