Nerazzurri ahead with Lautaro and Taremi, then the Rossoneri turn it around with Theo, Pulisic and Abraham. First trophy for Cardinale, 50th in the club’s history
Sergio Conceiçao was in Milan for 24 hours and already half the city would vote for him as mayor: after a week at Milan, he is in history. Sensational, tachycardic, crazy as those who love football like it: the Riyadh derby exploded in the second half and Milan won it in the most beautiful way. Over the 89th minute of Gabbia: comeback from 0-2 to 3-2 against Inter, with a goal from Tammy Abraham in the 93rd minute. It is the first success of the RedBird management and of Cardinale, which arrived when half the city was celebrating the scudetto. Clearly stated: it is the victory of Conceiçao and Rafa Leao, half injured, giant in the 45 minutes played. And again: the victory of Pulisic, excellent as always, and of Theo Hernandez, who in one week went from a former talent destined for the transfer market to a man of destiny. Milan haven’t experienced a night like this since May 2022… and the good thing is that no one expected it.
Inzaghi, not this time
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And Inter? Well, Simone Inzaghi lost the third final of his life and he lost it in an incredible way. They won 2-0 after 51 minutes and 2-1 with 15 to go, then got lost with the substitutions – Darmian and Asslani, who came on, involved in the goals – and finished with their heads down. But maybe it’s just fate, it’s just that Conceiçao is protected by someone up there, in the sky of Arabia. Thiaw and Tomori made mistakes like other times but he, unlike Pioli and Fonseca, got away with it.
first half chamomile
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The Super Cup was incredible. For a time, shy. Milan are attentive, with Jimenez on the right as expected and the defensive line often becomes five: two compact lines and Morata alone in front. Classic Inter but under pace, without ideas, a few throws and little else. It’s normal for opportunities to be counted. 15th minute: Fofana vertical for Reijnders, who leaps past Bisseck beautifully but looks for the far post with his left. Ball out. 23rd minute: Inter restart with a great play from Barella, Taremi crosses the field and finds Dimarco who crosses hard, well, with his left foot. Maignan, spectacular and effective, deflects into the corner. Then, mostly, news from the infirmary. Calhanoglu had to come off, replaced just after half an hour by Asllani. Dumfries takes a hit but holds on. Out of nowhere, after the 45th minute, Inter’s lead goal appears.
Milan turning point
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The first half is over, with just one minute left of added time when there is a throw-in on the left, on the halfway line. Dimarco beats it on the run and gains several metres, Emerson Royal doesn’t read the situation, so the ball reaches Mkhitaryan, who finds Taremi on the edge of the area. From there the ball reaches Lautaro, free in the area, who dribbles and puts it near the near post with his left foot. You will notice that the Milan fans do not appear in the sentence. A chain of errors: Emerson sensationally walks, Tomori ducks and leaves Taremi, Thiaw squeezes and abandons Lautaro. To close, both Malick and Theo Hernandez fall on Toro’s feint. Everyone bad, Emerson worse.
taremi and theo
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Lautaro’s goal changes everything. When they return, Inter double their lead. De Vrij throws for Taremi, who cuts between Tomori and Thiaw, unjustifiable in their surprise. Mehdi is alone and good, he aims for the goal and declares the ball in the corner pocket: with the turn, he puts it where Maignan can’t reach it. Conceiçao at that point plays Leao, who had been warming up for 25 minutes. What else to wait for? Rafa immediately earns a free kick, which Theo chooses to kick low, under the barrier. “And the crocodile?” the children sang. He’s there but he’s out of position, and the barrier with him: the ball passes and it’s 2-1. Game reopened. There is time for the post-mortem of the goal, but a few questions arise: does Sommer make a bad save? Is Lautaro responsible? The replays will tell.
six chances in 11 minutes
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At that point the game goes into tachycardia. Anything happens. Between the 16th and 20th Milan have three chances. 16th minute: a free header in the center of the area by Pulisic, who heads it to Sommer. 17th minute: Leao gradually clears Bisseck (but wasn’t he bad?) and crosses low, backwards, for Reijnders, who almost scores a goal with a slide. Almost, because Bastoni saves with his body. 20th minute: Emerson on the right finds Pulisic, who crosses to the far post, where Morata tries to make it 2-2 with his head. Sommer, from inside the goal, saves on the line. Milan doesn’t take advantage of their opportunities and then Inter goes back up. Not to be outdone, he had three goals in four minutes, between the 23rd and 27th minutes. Dumfries crosses on the restart for Taremi, who fails to connect two steps from Maignan. Then Lautaro shoots from the edge, too slowly for Maignan, and Carlos Augusto takes the post from two metres, leaping over Musah from a Dumfries cross.
key moment
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At that point Conceiçao plays it his way. He takes off Reijnders and puts on Loftus-Cheek, who starts a slow action, only for it to accelerate. Leao throws Theo to the left, who crosses low, Pulisic first anticipates Bastoni, then burns Carlos Augusto for reactivity: it’s 2-2. Inzaghi and Conceiçao try with the final changes. Inter brings in Frattesi and Darmian for Barella and De Vrij, Milan also launches the last of those relegated by Fonseca: Calabria. There is a scent of penalties in the air, but the AC Milan moment is coming. Another time. Maignan makes a phenomenal save against Dumfries, then destiny is fulfilled. Pulisic with a great play allows Leao to accelerate and open the door for Abraham. Tammy, when he hits, is already going to celebrate under the curve. Milan doesn’t believe it: few times in the last 15 years have they been so happy.
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