RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — In a thrilling encounter that highlighted AC Milan’s fighting spirit, new coach Sergio Conceicao won his first trophy after just a week in office, guiding his team to a spectacular 3-2 comeback victory against city rivals Inter Milan in the Italian Super Cup final.
The Rossoneri, trailing by two goals, showed remarkable resilience to turn the tide in their favor, thanks in large part to inspiring performances from substitutes Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic.
Leao, who came on as a substitute, played a key role in all three of Milan’s goals, firstly winning a free kick which allowed Theo Hernandez to brilliantly score the opening goal. Pulisic, following a quick counter-attack initiated by Leao, found the net with a clever finish between the legs of Inter goalkeeper Augusto.
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As the game reached its climax, Leao shifted back to being a passer, slipping a smart pass to Pulisic, who quickly delivered a cross for Tammy Abraham to score into an empty net in injury time, sealing a fantastic comeback.
Inter Milan had initially taken control of the match, Lautaro Martinez scoring the first goal following a great move built on a throw-in, and Mehdi Taremi doubling the advantage shortly after the break.
The victory represents a milestone for Conceicao, who had previously replaced Paulo Fonseca just a week before. He had already led Milan to a victory after going down against Juventus in the semi-final, showing his ability to inspire his team in critical moments.
Looking ahead, AC Milan prepare for their Serie A opener against Cagliari on Saturday, filled with new confidence after this significant cup victory, despite sitting eighth in the table before the match.
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The Super Cup was held in Saudi Arabia for the fifth time in seven years, with this year continuing the expanded four-team format, promising even more thrilling action in future editions.
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