In a thrilling clash at the King Saud University Stadium, AC Milan snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, coming back to win 3-2 over city rivals Inter Milan in the final of the Italian Super Cup held Monday evening. The decisive moment came in injury time, when Tammy Abraham scored the winner, completing a remarkable comeback after her team had been two goals down early in the match.
The victory denied Inter Milan a fourth consecutive Super Cup title, allowing AC Milan to draw level with their rivals, each of whom now own eight Super Cup trophies. New head coach Serge Conceicao, appointed just a week before after the dismissal of Paulo Fonseca, celebrated his first trophy in his second match in charge of the team.
Read more:
AC Milan: Italian Super Champions after a historic comeback against Inter
The evening began with a magnificent light show which staged a memorable encounter. However, it was Inter Milan who quickly took control of the match. In the 43rd minute, a fine pass from Mehdi Taremi found Lautaro Martinez, whose clever move allowed him to pass Malick Thiaw. Martinez then fired a precise shot that crossed Theo Hernandez and ended up in the back of the net, leaving goalkeeper Mike Maignan helpless.
Continuing their momentum from the first half, just two minutes after the break, Inter doubled their lead thanks to a brilliant long pass from Stefan de Vrij. Taremi demonstrated his talent, controlling the ball before slotting it into the bottom corner, causing a shock among the Milan fans.
In an effort to turn the tide, AC Milan brought in Rafael Leao, whose impact was immediate. He won a free kick from near the box, and Hernandez took it upon himself to take it, curling a low shot around the wall and inside the post, rekindling Milan’s hopes.
Read more:
The Super Cup returns to Saudi Arabia to decide the first title of the year
With renewed energy, Milan did everything they could to equalize. Tijjani Reijnders saw his attempt blocked by Alessandro Bastoni, while goalkeeper Yann Sommer made a spectacular save to prevent an Alvaro Morata header. Inter also had their chances, with Carlos Augusto’s header hitting the post before falling safely into Maignan’s arms, narrowly avoiding a two-goal cushion.
As time ran out, Milan finally found their second goal. Christian Pulisic, skillfully maneuvering through three defenders, received a cross from Hernandez and placed his shot into the opposite corner. With the score tied and penalties looming, it looked like both teams would share the points.
Read more:
Third Sports Bulletin – Prensa Latina
But Milan weren’t done yet. In a desperate effort, Leao expertly put the ball back in front of goal, allowing substitute Tammy Abraham to score from close range, sending the Milan fans into a frenzy and breaking the hearts of the Inter players.
As Conceicao embraced his delighted players, the crestfallen Inter team collapsed onto the pitch, left to ponder what might have been in a meeting that will long be remembered.
