U19s reach final after stunning comeback: 0 - 3 to 3 - 3!

SASSUOLO – Inter U19s' never-say-die spirit saw them snatch an incredible draw – and a place in the final – from the jaws of defeat. 

A litany of first-half mistakes saw the Nerazzurri trailing 3-0 at the break with a mountain to climb.

The first 30 minutes of the second period passed to no avail and the game seemed to be slipping away from them, but Cristian Chivu's side never gave up and when Fabio Abiuso poked home with 13 minutes left on the clock, the spark was lit.

Inter piled forward and laid siege to the Cagliari area but chance after chance went begging. Then on the stroke of full time Abiuso rose highest to pull a second goal back and give Inter renewed energy, before Mattia Sangalli nodded in Andi Hoti's cross to make it 3-3 in stoppage time.

The Nerazzurri held out in extra time to reach the final by virtue of their better league position. They will now face on Roma at Mapei Stadium on Tuesday at 20:30 CEST.

Inter 3-3 Cagliari (HT 0-3)Scorers: Desogus 14, 45+1, Zito Luvumbo 43 (pen), Abiuso 77, 90, Sangalli 90+3.

INTER: 1 Rovida; 19 Silvestro (25 Grygar 87), 5 Hoti, 23 Moretti, 6 Carboni F.; 14 Fabbian (30 Owusu 58; 18 Nunziatini 110), 4 Sangalli (C), 8 Casadei; 7 Peschetola (10 Iliev 46); 38 Carboni V. (22 Abiuso 58), 35 Zuberek (9 Jurgens 46).Subs not used: 12 Basti, 21 Botis, 15 Fontanarosa, 27 Dervishi, 29 Pelamatti, 37 Peretti.Coach: Cristian Chivu.

CAGLIARI: 1 D'Aniello, 3 Obert, 4 Palomba, 5 Conti, 7 Delpupo (27 Tramoni 73), 8 Kourfalidis (18 Schirru 68), 10 Desogus (19 Vitale 83), 26 Cavuoti (14 Corsini 83) , 28 Sulis, 30 Secci (21 Pulina 105), 37 Zito Luvumbo (22 Vinciguerra 83).Subs not used: 24 Fusco, 11 Masala, 15 Idrissi, 17 Caddeo, 23 Astrand, 33 Yanken.Coach: Roberto Concas.

Booked: Rovida (I), Hoti (I), Zito Luvumbo (C), Secci (C), Moretti (I), Schirru (C), Casadei (I), Sulis (I).Added time: 1+5+1+1.Referee: Daniele Virgilio (Trapani)Assistants: Centrone, Ceolin.Fourth official: Turrini.