Dzeko + Mkhitaryan: AC Milan 0 - 2 Inter

Team

— May 10th 2023

3 MIN READING

Inter win the Champions League semi-final first leg

There are some moments that are so memorable you could almost draw them. If you close your eyes you can see clear outlines of Dzeko's left-footed volley, Lautaro’s dummy and Mkhitaryan's run and finish, the hugs, the joy... First of all, however, there was the Nerazzurri's determination and grit, those fundamental characteristics for a match as difficult as it was important. Head and heart yes, but also tenacity, skill and so much desire is needed to win a game in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals, especially to make your mark after just 10 minutes and 16 seconds. The first goal, a mix of technique and physicality, was a beautiful goal by Edin Dzeko, who hit a left-footed volley from Calhanoglu's corner kick and put Inter ahead with goal number 400 in his career, his 29th in the Champions League. And then there was the second, 3 minutes later, Dimarco's low pass from the left, Lautaro's extraordinary dummy and Mkhitaryan’s fantastic finish, a move full of intelligence and skill.

Two beautiful goals in a few minutes, but the Nerazzurri still wanted more: Inter were cutting through AC Milan with ease and in the 16th minute they came close to scoring a third with Calhanoglu's effort with outside of his boot that struck the inside of the post to Maignan's left. The Rossoneri tried to get back in the game through Calabria's effort, who was found by Messias before hitting the side-netting, but Inzaghi's team's concentration levels never dropped and they had the help of Dumfries, who tackled Saelemaekers in a dangerous position just the half time whistle was blown.

In the second half the Rossoneri came close with Diaz and Messias with two shots that went wide of Onana's goal. Inter, however, were still searching for that third goal and in the 53rd minute Bastoni almost claimed another Champions League assist, playing in Dzeko who was denied by a great save from Maignan. AC Milan came closest to halving the deficit through Tonali, whose shot, which took a slight deflection off Bastoni, hit the post. Inter shuffled the pack with de Vrij, Gagliardini, Brozovic, Lukaku and Correa all coming on to inject some energy into the side. In the 74th minute Lukaku did well to find Lautaro, who played it to Darmian, whose shot was well blocked by Thiaw, and in the 83rd minute there was some nice combination work with Barella, who set up Gagliardini, who failed to get a shot off despite being in a scoring position. The match was ended as Onana saved from Pobega's powerful shot which he hit too centrally, and meant that Inter came away victorious from the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals, with the second leg set for Tuesday 16 April at 21:00 CEST.

AC MILAN 0-2 INTER

GOALSCORERS: 8' Dzeko, 11' Mkhitaryan

AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): 16 Maignan; 2 Calabria (82' 20 Kalulu), 24 Kjaer (59' 28 Thiaw), 23 Tomori, 19 Theo Hernandez; 33 Krunic, 8 Tonali; 10 Brahim Diaz (82' 32 Pobega), 4 Bennacer (18' 30 Messias), 56 Saelemaekers (59' 27 Origi); 9 Giroud Subs: 83 Mirante, 92 Nava, 5 Ballo-Touré, 12 Rebić, 46 Gabbia, 90 De Ketelaere. Coach: Stefano Pioli INTER (3-5-2): 24 Onana; 36 Darmian, 15 Acerbi, 95 Bastoni; 2 Dumfries, 23 Barella, 20 Calhanoglu (78' 5 Gagliardini), 22 Mkhitaryan (62' 77 Brozovic), 32 Dimarco (70' 6 De Vrij); 9 Dzeko (70' 90 Lukaku), 10 Lautaro (78' 11 Correa) Subs: 1 Handanovic, 21 Cordaz, 8 Gosens, 12 Bellanova, 14 Asllani, 33 D'Ambrosio, 46 Zanotti Coach: Simone Inzaghi.

BOOKINGS: 45'+1' Krunic, 45+2 Mkhitaryan, 64' Tomori

ADDED TIME: 4': 4' Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano (ESP) Assistants: Barbero, Nevado (ESP) Fourth Official: Sanchez (ESP) VAR: Martinez Munuera (ESP) Assistant VAR: Hernandez (ESP)