By Mark Ogagan
Tuesday nigh was a magical night for Inter Milan after they secured a dramatic 4-3 extra-time victory over Barcelona to advance to the Champions League final with a thrilling 7-6 aggregate win.
Davide Frattesi’s decisive 99th-minute goal inside a packed San Siro arena sealed the Italian side’s place in the May 31 final in Munich.
The match began with Inter taking control through Lautaro Martinez’s 21st-minute opener after Denzel Dumfries capitalized on Barcelona’s defensive error, allowing Thuram to square for the Argentine to slot home. Hakan Çalhanoğlu doubled the lead from the penalty spot just before halftime after Martinez was fouled in the box by Eric García.
Barcelona fought back impressively in the second half with Eric García scoring a beautiful right-footed volley in the 54th minute from Martin’s left-footed cross. Dani Olmo equalized seven minutes later with a header at the back post from Martin’s delivery.
Raphinha then gave Barcelona their first lead of the tie in the 87th minute, smashing a right-footed shot into the bottom corner after his initial left-footed attempt was saved by Sommer.
However, Inter’s Francesco Acerbi dramatically leveled in the 90+4 minute when Dumfries stripped Cubarsi of possession and crossed for the defender to steer home, sending the San Siro crowd into delirium and forcing extra time.
Then came the decisive moment on 99 minutes when Marcus Thuram held off multiple defenders on the right wing before finding Taremi, who with his back to goal teed up Frattesi to place the ball into the bottom left corner.
Barcelona nearly equalized in the closing minutes as Lamine Yamal hit the post with a rocket shot in stoppage time (90+2), and later had another attempt saved by Sommer (115’). Lewandowski, who came on as a substitute, missed a headed chance at the back post under pressure from Bastoni (108’).
As the clocked ticked away, relentless rain poured down but Simone Inzaghi’s squad held firm to reach their first Champions League final since 2010, denying Barcelona a chance at their sixth title.
Inter Milan, three-time Champions League winners, will face the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal in the final at Munich’s Allianz Arena.
PSG take a 1-0 advantage into their second leg after Ousmane Dembele’s early goal at the Emirates Stadium on April 29.
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