A goal by the Belgian striker in the final stretch of the game brings the Italians closer to the quarterfinals
Romelu Lukaku He showed up when his team needed him most. When the tie against the Port was the most probable, the version of that Belgian striker who was the star of the Inter not so long ago With a key goal in San SiroLukaku knocked down Porto (1-0) and brought the quarter finals to the Italian team.
A game full of uncertainty, fear and respect began at the San Siro. Both the rival and the competition. Inzaghi and Conceincao were the only ones who gave a smile before the end of the ninety minutes and it was in the previous greeting, in a reunion between two former teammates in that Lazio that won the ‘Scudetto’ in 2000.
Barella’s brushstroke for Lukaku ???? #InterPorto pic.twitter.com/bzxDT8JXxe
— Alexander (@90ordnasselA) February 22, 2023
Between the distribution of unsuccessful possessions, the nerves in both teams began to loosen up, timid occasions from the boots of the bravest began to flourish. Otavio put the Portuguese in danger, while the set piece was the Nerazzurri’s best ally.
tense calm
The clash developed with a tense calm until the play came that caused the players to release all the tension in the Meazza. In a promising attack from Inter, Darmian went down after feeling contact from a defender inside the box. Inter threw the ball out for the referee to review the play and when he made it clear that there was nothing to assess, Otavio mischievously put the ball into play, taking advantage of the fact that the Inter team was out of place.
The referee stopped the game because Onana had another ball in his hands, but the Inter players went to blame Otavio for his play, which triggered a brawl that ended with a yellow card for Otavio himself -which in the end would be his sentence – and another for Dimarco.
With both teams fully involved in the game, just before the break, the clearest one for the locals arrived. A shot from Bastoni, in another set piece, that Diogo Costa took under the sticks with his forearm, displaying his reflexes, his instinct, with a key game save at a fundamental moment.
Both teams jumped after the break plugged in, once again sharing the dominance but, this time, with Porto leading the most dangerous occasions.
successful goalkeepers
And it is that if Diogo Costa made a goal value save for his team, Onana did not want to be left behind and signed a saving double intervention in the same play that left Taremi perplexed.
The double attempt woke up an Inter that had only enjoyed one chance in the second half. Also the changes of Inzaghi, who introduced Brozovic and Lukaku to give a fresh air to the midfield and the offensive line.
The technician’s plan worked. Both entered with the right foot, changing the face of their teammates, the game of their team and generating chances that caused the San Siro to push. A situation that benefited from Otavio’s second yellow card for a foul. The first step for the goal.
The appearance of the Belgian
He needed that little push of seeing himself with one more to begin to believe himself superior to a Porto that went from more to less in attack but maintained its defensive solidity, with Pepe once again acting as quarterback but who could not prevent Lukaku from I would feel important again. He finished off the post with his head, but did not forgive the rebound and triggered the madness at the San Siro with four minutes to go.
For this, Inter recovered Lukaku. For big occasions, for difficult moments. A striker who appeared when he was needed. Until now, the Belgian had not been able to show it, handicapped by injuries, but he chose the best scenario to vindicate himself, bringing his team closer to quarters that they have not enjoyed for twelve years.
Datasheet:1 – Inter: Onana; Skriniar (Dumfries, m.81), Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan (Brozovic, m.72), Dimarco (Gosens, m.58); Lautaro y Dzeko (Lukaku, m.58)
0 – Porto: Diego Costa; John Mario (Borges, m.92), Pepe, Marcano, Zaidu; Pepe, Uribe, Grujic, Galen (Evanilson, m.51); Otavio and Taremi (Wendel, m.83)
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goals: 1-0, m.86: Lukaku.
Referee: Srdjan Jovanovic (Serbia). He showed yellow card to Dimarco (m. 41) for Inter, and Otavio (m.41, m.78), Pepê (m.63), Conceicao (m.92) for Porto.
