Inter Milan confirmed resilience as they held Benfica to a 3-3 draw on Wednesday, securing their passage to the Champions League semifinals with a formidable 5-3 combination victory.
The Italian giants will now tackle their metropolis rivals, AC Milan, in a extremely anticipated encounter, vying for the dignity of being the primary Italian group to advance to the ultimate in six years.
It can be Inter’s first semifinal look since they received the European Cup for the third time in 2010, the final Italian Champions League triumph with Juventus dropping the 2015 and 2017 finals.
“It will be a special derby,” Inter striker Lautaro Martinez, who ended his 10-game scoring drought by scoring his group’s second purpose in opposition to Benfica, advised Amazon Prime Video.
“We all know what this sport means, to play a Milan derby within the Champions League semifinals.
“Happiness is the word, I’m so proud to represent this crest and this great club which is back to where it belongs.”
Inter have been resolute in opposition to Benfica and have been by no means in peril of dropping their grip on the tie, scoring in every considered one of their solely three pictures on the right track in the whole sport.
Leading 2-0 from the primary leg in Portugal, Inter have been pleased to sit down again and await a counterattack in opposition to a determined Benfica aspect.
Inter took the lead after 13 minutes when defender Nicolas Otamendi failed to regulate a unfastened ball close to his personal space.
Nicolo Barella, who additionally scored Inter’s opener within the first leg, was fast to react and after a pleasant one-two mixture with Lautaro he unleashed a thunderous left-foot strike into the highest nook of the web.
Benfica equalized within the thirty eighth minute when midfielder Fredik Aursnes leapt excessive to go a cross from Rafa Silva powerfully into the roof of the web.
Inter opened up a two-goal lead after the break as Martinez and substitute Joaquin Correa scored with close-range strikes and so they have been in management, holding Benfica to zero pictures on the right track till the 86th minute.
The Portuguese aspect refused to lie down, nonetheless, and defender Antonio Silva with a close-range header and substitute Petar Musa scored late objectives for Benfica to salvage a draw.
The Milan groups have met twice within the Champions League knockout phases, the 2002-03 semis and 2004-05 quarterfinals with AC Milan, seven-time European champions, profitable each ties.
They will conflict on the San Siro within the first leg on May 10 and on May 16 within the second leg. The winners will face Real Madrid or Manchester City, who meet within the semifinals for the second consecutive season.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
