A pair of goals from Denzel Dumfries in the second half secured a victory for Inter 2-0 against Atalanta in Riyadh on Thursday, allowing them to advance to the final of the Italian Super Cup where the Serie A champions will try to claim the trophy for the fourth consecutive year.
In the final on Monday, Inter will face the team that wins Friday’s second semi-final between Juventus and AC Milan.
Team Lineups and Strategy
Inter’s coach Simone Inzaghi opted for his most formidable lineup, whereas Atalanta Gian Piero Gasperini, already missing key scorer Mateo Retegui due to injury, unexpectedly kept both Ademola Lookman and Charles De Ketelaere on the sidelines.
First Half Action
The first half concluded without any goals, largely due to Atalanta’s goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi, who initially thwarted Lautaro Martinez with a quick save from a short distance.
Carnesecchi made an impressive double save, deflecting a hard shot from Martinez, and then swiftly got back up to deny Federico Dimarco’s follow-up attempt.
Atalanta created one good opportunity in the first half due to a sloppy headed clearance by Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni, which allowed Giorgio Scalvini to get a close-range header that he directed right at goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
Second Half Breakthrough
Following the break, Inter managed to earn a few early corner kicks and gained the advantage when the ball reached Dumfries in the six-yard area. Positioned with his back to the goal, the Dutch player skillfully controlled the ball with a header before striking an overhead shot into the net.
Gasperini reacted by introducing Lookman and De Ketelaere, as well as Ederson, but it was Inter who scored the second goal on the counter just as Atalanta was starting to pose a threat.
Dumfries Decisive Performance
Dimarco’s diagonal pass bypassed Mehdi Taremi but reached Dumfries, who fired a powerful first-time shot that gave Carnesecchi no opportunity to react as it bounced in off the crossbar.
“We understand how challenging it is to face Atalanta, as they provide us with limited space,” Bastoni from Inter stated to SportMediaset.
“In such circumstances, personal skill must stand out, and today Denzel accomplished exactly that.”
Late Game Drama
Martinez had the chance to secure the win for Inter when Dimarco set him up, but he once again failed to get past Carnesecchi with only the goalkeeper to contend with.
Inter came close to facing consequences shortly after when Ederson scored, but the goal was disallowed due to an offside. In stoppage time, it was Sommer’s moment to shine, making a remarkable double save from Berat Djimsiti and Lookman.
Martinez still had the opportunity for another disappointing miss, yet Inter rightfully triumphed over an Atalanta team that likely suffered due to their starting lineup choices.
Post-Match Reactions
“We possess a large roster of players. Following a challenging stretch in the league, it was the appropriate moment to give opportunities to those who haven’t started games frequently,” Gasperini stated.
I didn’t disregard the competition; we aimed to win and encountered a very formidable team. We committed a few too many errors.
Holabet News is your trusted online betting site in Singapore. Your winning journey starts here!