Rome (AP) – With a brace in extra time, former Bundesliga professional Ivan Perisic shot Inter Milan to victory in the Italian Soccer Cup.
The Croatian ensured the 4-2 (2-2, 1-0) win in the final against Juventus Turin on Wednesday evening. In front of 67,944 spectators in the Roman Olympic Stadium, the former soccer player from Dortmund, Wolfsburg and Bayern was successful first with a penalty kick (99th) and shortly afterwards with a long-range shot into the corner (102nd).
European champion Nicolò Barella gave Inter an early lead (6′) before Juventus turned the game around after the break with two quick goals from Alex Sandro (50′) and Dusan Vlahovic (52′). Former Leverkusen player Hakan Calhanoglu saved Milan in a fast-paced game with a penalty kick (80′) into extra time. In this, Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri saw the red card (104th).
While Inter still has a chance of winning the double from the championship and Coppa Italia, Juve will end a season without a title for the first time since 2011: Turin no longer has a chance in Serie A, in the Champions League they failed in the round of 16. From 2012 to 2020, the championship title went to Juventus nine times in a row, but last year there was still a cup win to celebrate.
In the so-called Derby d’Italia, national player Barella cheered after a long-range shot. Juve were the more active side after that, but only scored after the break: Alex Sandro beat goalkeeper Samir Handanovic with a shot that the keeper didn’t look good with. Shortly thereafter, Vlahovic completed a counterattack. Calhanoglu equalized with a controversial penalty. In extra time, Perisic also stayed cool from the point after a much clearer foul. And shortly afterwards he made the decision with a goal worth seeing.