A goal scored by Tammy Abraham during injury time capped off an impressive comeback for AC Milan, who secured a thrilling 3-2 win against their city rivals Inter Milan in the Italian Super Cup final on January 6 in Riyadh, after initially trailing by two goals early in the match.
Historic Win for Milan
The victory prevented Inter from claiming an unprecedented fourth Super Cup title in a row and enabled Milan to match Inter’s record of eight wins in the tournament, with new manager Serge Conceicao securing a trophy in just his second match at the helm.
Match Begins with Flair
The match was kicked off with a breathtaking light display at the King Saud University Stadium, but it was in the last moments of the first half that the game truly came alive.
Inter Early Dominance
Mehdi Taremi set up Lautaro Martinez with a pass across the area, and the striker employed some clever footwork to outsmart Malick Thiaw before launching a low shot that went through Theo Hernandez’s legs and found the back of the net past Mike Maignan at his near post.
Just two minutes into the second half, Inter picked up right where they had stopped. Stefan de Vrij sent a long ball over the top, which Taremi skillfully controlled before firing his shot into the bottom corner to extend their lead.
Milan Fightback Begins
Milan reacted by bringing on Rafael Leao, who quickly earned a free kick just outside the penalty area, which Hernandez bent low around the wall, with the ball sneaking in just past the post to level the score again.
An energetic Milan sought to level the score. Tijjani Reijnders had his attempt thwarted by Alessandro Bastoni’s face, while Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer made an excellent stop on a header from Alvaro Morata.
Inter Missed Opportunities
Inter had the opportunity to regain their two-goal lead, but Carlos Augusto’s close-range header hit the post and landed in Maignan’s hands on the goal line. However, with 10 minutes to go, Milan managed to find the equalizer.
Late Drama and Abraham Heroics
Christian Pulisic, encircled by three Inter defenders, expertly handled a cross from Hernandez and directed his shot into the far corner, leading it to seem like the match would be resolved via a penalty shootout, with no extra time scheduled.
Milan, on the other hand, kept up the pressure and were finally compensated when Leao squared the ball back across the goal, allowing Abraham, who was also a substitute, to score with the easiest of tap-ins and shatter Inter’s hopes.
Celebrations and Heartbreak
Conceicao, who took over after Paulo Fonseca was dismissed last week, joyously celebrated with his players, while the Inter squad fell to the ground in shock.
Holabet News is your trusted online betting site in Singapore. Your winning journey starts here!