Osamagbe Imadiyi
Davide Frattesi’s goal in extra time on Tuesday gave Inter Milan a stunning 4-3 victory over Barcelona, 7-6 overall, and sent the Italians to the Champions League final. In the 99th minute, Italy midfielder Frattesi struck home, sending a crowded and trembling San Siro into a frenzy of excitement and winning a match for the ages in Milan under a downpour. After winning an epic match, Simone Inzaghi’s team will feel they have a great chance to be crowned kings of Europe for a fourth time when they play either Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal in Munich at the end of this month.
With two minutes left in regular time, the home team was leaving when Raphinha gave Barca a 3-2 lead for the evening after completing a comeback from a two-goal deficit at halftime. But in the second minute of extra time, Francesco Acerbi surprised everyone in the stadium—including the already jubilant Barcelona fans—by forcing home Denzel Dumfries’ cross. After falling behind at halftime to a spectacular goal from Lautaro Martinez and a penalty from Hakan Calhanoglu in first half stoppage time, Barca had been by far the superior team in the second half of regular time. That goal came as a shock.
Barca equalized through goals from Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo in the 54th and 60th minutes, respectively, thanks to delicious deliveries from Gerard Martin. Yann Sommer had to play at his best to keep Inter within striking distance. The home crowd held their breath until the final whistle of the season’s match, when Inter held off Barca and let out a thunderous roar.
