In a nail-biting showdown in Riyadh, AC Milan secured the Italian Super Cup by overcoming a two-goal deficit to beat Inter Milan 3-2 on Monday. The match, which saw a dramatic turnaround similar to their semi-final victory against Juventus, highlighted Milan's resilience and tactical prowess under new coach Sergio Conceicao.
Inter Milan, aiming for their fourth consecutive Super Cup title, initially looked dominant with goals from Lautaro Martinez and Mehdi Taremi before the halftime break. However, Milan emerged revitalized in the second half, shifting the momentum decisively in their favor.
Inter's challenges compounded when reigning Serie A champions saw midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu sidelined due to a muscular injury just 30 minutes into the game. Kristjan Asllani stepped in to replace the Turkish star, but it wasn't enough to maintain their lead.
The turning point came in the 52nd minute when Theo Hernandez reignited Milan's hopes with a precise free kick. The equalizer set the stage for a thrilling finale, as U.S. winger Christian Pulisic restored parity with just 10 minutes remaining.
It was Tammy Abraham who ultimately sealed the victory, scoring the decisive goal in the 93rd minute to lift the trophy for Milan for the eighth time, their first since 2016. This triumph not only brings Milan level with Inter Milan in Super Cup titles but also places them just behind Juventus, who hold the record with nine titles.
The victory underscores AC Milan's resurgence in Italian football and sets a promising tone for their future endeavors under Conceicao's leadership.
Reference(s):
Late Abraham winner gives Milan Italian Super Cup win over Inter
cgtn.com