A Milan with its back to the wall
However, the meeting got off to a bad start for the Rossoneri. After a balanced first half, Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring for Inter in the 45th minute, concluding a clear collective action with a low strike after a perfect hook. Barely back from the locker room, Inter doubled the lead thanks to a precise opening from De Vrij for Mehdi Taremi, who got ahead of the Milan defense to deceive Mike Maignan in the 47th minute.
At that point, everything seemed to be tilting in favor of the Nerazzurri. With a two-goal advantage, Simone Inzaghi's men seemed to have total control of the match. But that was without counting on the resilience of AC Milan.
The Rossoneri revolt
Led by its new coach, Sergio Conceição, who arrived in Milan less than two weeks ago, the Lombard club has begun a spectacular comeback. The reaction came in the 52nd minute, when Théo Hernandez reduced the gap with a perfectly executed free kick at ground level, surprising a helpless Sommer.
The dynamic completely changed from that point on. Inter, under pressure, lost their fluidity, while Milan gained in intensity and creativity. In the 80th minute, Christian Pulisic equalized by finishing a low cross from Théo Hernandez with an unstoppable cross strike.
The goal of the coronation
While the match seemed to be heading towards a penalty shootout, Milan delivered the blow in the final seconds of added time. In the 90th+3 minute, Rafael Leão, author of a sensational entry, was launched on the right wing. He delivered a tight cross in front of the goal, where Tammy Abraham, who had come on a little earlier, only had to push the ball into the net to give his team the final advantage.
The decisive role of Sergio Conceição
The victory marks a special moment for Sergio Conceição, who wins his first trophy with Milan after just two matches in charge of the team. Arriving in Lombardy when he was initially expected to return to Nantes, the Portuguese technician has already won the hearts of the fans. His ability to galvanize his players and reverse the course of a match seemed designed for such a scenario.
