Author – Amrit Santlani
Inter Milan beat Fiorentina 2-1 to win their second Coppa Italia title in a row, thanks to two goals from Lautaro Martinez. The Argentine striker helped Simone Inzaghi’s side record a comeback victory over Fiorentina, as Nico Gonzales opened the scoring after just three minutes.
Inter’s victory in the Coppa Italia would give them confidence after their 3-1 defeat to Napoli in Serie A recently, with a Champions League final against Manchester City next month. Vicenzo Italiano’s men are also ready for another European final, as they face West Ham United in the final of the Europa League Conference on June 7.
Fiorentina started the game brightly, converting their first attacking move. Jonathan Ikone passed to Gonzalez, who shot the ball from close range to put the Viola ahead. Just before the halfway point of the second half, Martínez set Edin Dzeko free, but he couldn’t hit the target despite being alone on goal.
Inter didn’t have to wait long to draw level again, as Martínez did what he had to do: Marcelo Brozovic’s pass cut through the Fiorentina defense and the Argentine World Cup winner did the rest. The Inter Milan captain would soon put his side ahead when he finished emphatically from Nicolo Barrela’s cross.
In the second half, Pietro Terracciano made an extraordinary double save to prevent Fiorentina from falling further behind. Luka Jovic was denied by a spectacular save from Samir Handanovic from a tight angle, before Robin Gosens missed an open goal and sent Romelu Lukaku’s cross over the bar.
Brazilian defender Dodo found Jovic with a sumptuous cross, whose header was close and Inter successfully defended their Coppa Italia title.
Brazilian defender Dodô played 82 minutes before being substituted, but made two saves to prevent Gosens from coming on, while his countryman Arthur Cabral didn’t do enough to trouble the Inter defense.