Frattesi extra-time winner takes Inter into Champions League final

Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP

Inter Milan substitute Davide Frattesi struck an extra-time winner to send his side into the Champions League final.

His goal secured Inter a rip-roaring 7-6 aggregate victory in a semi-final for the ages that finished up with the Italian side reaching the Munich final where they will face either Paris St Germain or Arsenal later this month.

It was a tale of two halves as Inter dominated the first 45 minutes and opened a two-goal lead thanks to a Lautaro Martinez goal on the counter in the 21st minute before Hakan Calhanoglu extended the lead with a penalty right before the break.

However, Barca woke up in the second half with Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo netting within six minutes to level the scoring and, after Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer made a string of saves to keep the hosts alive, the Catalans thought they had scored the winner through Raphinha from close-range in the 87th minute.

But as Inter made a desperate run for an equaliser, Denzel Dumfries found 37-year-old Acerbi inside the box and he fired a first-time effort into the net to score his first European goal in his 20th season and take the game to extra time.

In the 99th minute, Marcus Thuram made a brilliant run from the right and played the ball into the area for Frattesi, who set himself before neatly guiding a curling shot into the bottom corner to send the delighted home fans into raptures.

More from Sports News

News

  • UAE leaders hold talks with Bahrain King

    UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain on Wednesday, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court.

  • UAE's National Anti-Narcotics Authority busts international drug gang

    The UAE’s National Anti-Narcotics Authority has announced the dismantling of a criminal gang involved in drug trafficking and distribution, following a month-long joint operation with Dubai Police, Sharjah Police and authorities in Bahrain.

  • H.H. Sheikh Mansour, Russian Deputy PM discuss expanding cooperation

    His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, held talks with Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, focusing on strengthening cooperation between the two countries.