Mauro - The Hat - Trick

Three is the magic number.

The players to have scored three goals in a single Milano derby include Giovanni Capra, who did so in the second derby ever, in 1910; Istvan, Stefan or Stefano Nyers, a Hungarian-born stateless player who scored a hat-trick in 1953; Diego Milito, with three goals in 2012; and Mauro Icardi, who initially struggled to score against AC Milan. He failed to find the net in his first eight derbies before finally scoring on Easter Saturday in 2017, the game best remembered for Zapata’s goal. Not exactly a memorable occasion for Inter fans. Maurito needed a turning point, and it came in October that same year.

It was Inter vs AC Milan in the derby. AC Milan arrived full of confidence, despite trailing a little in the league table. They had brought in several players over the summer, including Kessiè, Calhanoglu, Bonucci and Lucas Biglia. But Inter were the more balanced, tougher side, with a front three that clicked: Candreva, Icardi and Perisic, from right to left. Just before the half-hour mark, Inter took the lead. Candreva sent the ball forward and Icardi struck on the turn, meeting it on the half-volley to make it 1-0. Sometimes, that’s enough in a derby. Sometimes, it isn’t. Suso equalised from outside the box, even cupping his hands behind his ears in celebration. Icardi went again: Perisic crossed, and he pulled off something extraordinary, twisting his body to meet the ball with the outside of his boot, the only thing he could do in that position. 2-1. It looked like the job was done, but then came the sting in the tail. With just minutes remaining, Bonaventura appeared from nowhere to make it 2-2, the same scoreline as the previous two derbies. Another comeback conceded, another curse. But there was still time. In the dying seconds, Rodriguez pulled back D’Ambrosio inside the box. Penalty. There was no doubt who would take it. In goal, however, stood Gigio Donnarumma, supposedly the best goalkeeper in the world, or thereabouts. Icardi had no trouble: the ball one way, Donnarumma the other. Hat-trick. Things can change in football, sometimes in an instant, and at that moment Icardi was the king of Milano. To leave no room for doubt, he showed his shirt to the entire stadium. Three times in the lead, and the third time was the charm. A hat-trick on what was then the biggest night of all, nine years ago.