With 90 minutes on the clock, Internazionale of Milan looked dead and buried. After a heroic effort, they trailed 3-2 to Raphinha’s 87th minute goal, and were on the verge of exiting the UEFA Champions League semi final 6-5 on aggregate. But in the third minute of added-on time, moments after a Lamine Yamal shot had cannoned off the post, Inter went up the other end and scored. Francesco Acerbi, their centre-back, produced a deft near-post finish worthy of a world-class centre forward, and the game went to extra time. In the ninth minute of that, Davide Frattesi produced a stunning finish off a lay-off from Mehdi Taremi, his fellow substitute, and Yann Sommer then defied Barcelona to send the Italians through to their second final in three seasons.
There was little hint of the drama to come when Inter’s energetic pressing and stout defence gave them a comfortable half-time lead. Dani Olmo lost the ball in midfield, Inter moved it on to Denzel Dumfries and his lovely square ball across the box was tucked away by Lautaro Martinez, who played 70 minutes despite not being fully fit.
It was Martinez who would help Inter extend their lead late in the half. At first, Pau Cubarsi’s tackle on him seemed perfectly timed. But as Martinez lay writhing in pain in the box, the ball went to the other end before VAR finally brought a half to the proceedings. Szymon Marciniak went to the pitch-side monitor and the replays showed him that Cubarsi had clipped Martinez’s boot first. Hakan Calhanoglu tucked away the penalty and that seemed to be that.
But as they had in the first leg, Hansi Flick’s Barcelona stormed back. Yamal was everywhere with his acceleration and trickery, and they found an unlikely hero in Gerard Martin, deputising at left-back for Alejandro Balde. In the 54th minute, his cross from the left of the area was stunningly volleyed home by Eric Garcia, playing at right-back in place of the injured Jules Kounde.
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Six minutes later, Olmo, who otherwise had a poor game, headed home a wickedly curling ball from Martin, and Barcelona were level. For the final half hour of normal time, Inter looked shattered, and it was no surprise when Raphinha finished off the rebound from his own shot after wave after wave of Barcelona attacks.
From somewhere though, Simone Inzaghi’s team found a second win. And this time, even Barcelona couldn’t come back.