Inter on Wednesday overpowered AC Milan early and held on to win the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final 2-0, leaving the Nerazzurri on the brink of a return to the final of European soccer’s showpiece event for the first time since 2010.
Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored two goals in three minutes to put Inter firmly in command and the visitors could have added more in a dominant first-half performance.
“We had an extraordinary first half, the scoreline was tighter than it should have been, with what we created,” Inter manager Simone Inzaghi said. “The guys were really great in managing such an emotional match.”
Photo: AFP
“We have to continue like this. We know that we’re just one step away from a dream that we believed in from August until today,” Inzaghi said.
The second leg is scheduled for Tuesday next week in what will surely be another special European night at the San Siro.
The winners face either Real Madrid or Manchester City, who drew their first leg 1-1.
Photo: AFP
“I know my team, I know my players, I know we can do better. I know Inter is a very strong team, but we’re not any less,” Milan manager Stefano Pioli said. “It will be a difficult night mentally for both teams, the last chance to get into the final.”
“We have the chance to put them in difficulty, to score goals, to try to get this back on track... We have to give everything we have — talent and heart — to turn around a situation that has become difficult, but not impossible,” Pioli said.
Milan were missing key forward Rafael Leao, who had not fully recovered from a thigh injury sustained over the weekend.
Photo: EPA-EFE
There was an electric atmosphere at the San Siro for the semi-final that had been dubbed the “Euroderby” in Italy.
The two clubs met in the Champions League last four 20 years ago — with Milan winning on away goals and going on to beat Juventus in the final for their sixth of seven titles.
Several members of those teams from 2003 were in the stands, along with Novak Djokovic, who is a Milan fan.
Photo: EPA-EFE
The match was expected to be cagey and tight, but Inter got off to the perfect start as they took the lead in the eighth minute.
Hakan Calhanoglu whipped in a corner from the left and Dzeko got in front of Milan defender Davide Calabria to hook a volley into the top-right corner.
Inter doubled their lead just three minutes later.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Federico Dimarco’s low pass was wisely left by Lautaro Martinez for Mkhitaryan to lift over Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
Milan had only conceded one goal in their past six Champions League matches.
Incredibly, Inter almost scored a third five minutes later, but Calhanoglu’s long-range effort came off the right post.
The Milan players were shellshocked, but they composed themselves and had their first attempt on goal on the half-hour mark, with Calabria hitting the side netting.
Seconds later, Inter were awarded a penalty for a foul by Simon Kjar on Martinez, but the referee revoked his decision after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor.
Milan improved after the break and were shooting toward the end packed with their fans, in a sea of red and black.
Brahim Diaz curled wide of the left post early on, but Inter were almost out of sight moments later.
No one closed down Alessandro Bastoni and he threaded the ball through to Dzeko, but Maignan parried the shot with his foot.
The Rossoneri should have pulled one back in the 63rd minute, but Sandro Tonali’s effort came off the base of the left post.
In the previous round, Inter beat SL Benfica 2-0 in Portugal before playing out a 3-3 draw at the San Siro.
“This is obviously a derby, so it’s even more emotional,” Inzaghi said. “The lads know that we have to do exactly what we did against Benfica: Not thinking about managing the match, but playing our own game, with the quality that we have shown on the field.”
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