From dream to nightmare…then the miracle: Inter in Champions League final, Barcelona knocked out in overtime
At the end of 120 minutes (plus recovery) even more incredible than the already extraordinary first leg match, Inter earned access to the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons: at the San Siro, against Barcelona, the Nerazzurri finished ahead by two goals in a dominant first half, only to collapse vertically in the second half to 2-3, regain it in 93′ with Acerbi′ s desperate kick and win in extra time with Davide Frattesi′ s winning left-footed shot, author of the 4-3 final.
After a very first flare-up by Yamal, who almost caught Ferran Torres in the box twenty seconds after the kickoff, Inter immediately shifted gears and stationed itself with personality in the opponent’s half of the field: the first fruit of the Nerazzurri’s pressure came on 21′ when Dimarco recovered the ball on the three-quarter line and served Dumfries, who was good at luring Szczesny out and passing it to Lautaro Martinez, who did not miss with the goal unguarded.
At the twilight of the first half, the doubling also arrives: Cubarsí intervenes in the area on Lautaro Martinez, referee Marciniak first does not seem intent on awarding the penalty but then, after verification on the sidelines, notices the clear contact between the Catalan defender’s foot and that of the Argentine bomber. It’s meanwhile struck 46′, Calhanoglu appeared on the penalty spot and dispatched the former Juventus goalkeeper.
The intermission definitely does Barça good, as they return to the field with the same eleven as in the first half but with quite a different attitude, so much so that between 54′ and 60′ they recover the two goals of disadvantage: to shorten the gap was Eric Garcia, with a great volley on a cross from the left by Gerard Martin, while to sign the equalizer, again on an assist from Gerard, was Dani Olmo, whose header left no chance for a Sommer who only a couple of minutes earlier had prevented the goal with a splendid reflex on Garcia’s conclusion.
The end of regulation play is sensational: Barcelona took the lead at 88’88’ with Raphinha, who put back into the net a ball repelled by Sommer on an initial conclusion by the same Brazilian; Lamine Yamal came close to the knockout blow at 92′, hitting the post to the left of the Swiss goalkeeper; a minute later Dumfries crossed low into the center of the area where Acerbi, by now an added striker, anticipated Garcia and signed the incredible 3-3. There is even room for one’last chance at 96′ but Yamal arrives without gasoline in front of Sommer and shoots at him. It goes to the’extra-time.
Extremely mentally charged, Inter regained its measures against its opponents in the first overtime and at 9′ took the lead again: insistent action by Thuram serving Taremi, the Iranian (who entered at 71′ for Lautaro) acted as a sponta for Frattesi, whose left-footed shot struck Szczesny for the 4-3. For the former Sassuolo man, who also entered in the second half (at 79′ for Mkhitaryan), the 4-3 goal is another very heavy one, after the 2-1 goal he scored at Bayern in the first leg of the quarterfinals.
Protests at the tail end of the first half, with Marciniak whistling the end just as the ball reached Barella, who had fired it into the net: however, the referee’s decision was unshakable. In the second half, the biggest danger came from Inter, in the 114th minute overall: a splendid conclusion by Yamal, Sommer removed it from the goal mirror with his fingertips. It’s, in fact, the last chance of note: Inter held out until the triple whistle and could release the scream of joy, earning another attempt to win the Cup with the big ears after the successes of 1964, 1965 and 2010.
