Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan score goals for Inter Milan against AC Milan in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal.
Report as Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan put Inter Milan in control of their all-Italian Champions League semi-final matchup against AC Milan; Inter have the benefit of playing in front of their own fans, back at the San Siro, for the second leg next Tuesday.
Inter Milan took control of their Champions League semifinal matchup with AC Milan early on thanks to goals from Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, winning the away leg 2-0.
At the San Siro on a crucial night for Italian soccer, Dzeko and Mkhitaryan’s goals gave Inter the lead after just 11 minutes.
Rafael Leao’s substitution from the match due to his failure to recover from a thigh injury dealt a significant blow to the home team even before the game began. Inter’s first-half performance was devastating, and Leao’s presence was missed.
If VAR hadn’t controversially rejected an on-field penalty decision for a foul by Simon Kjaer on the superb Lautaro Martinez despite what appeared to be clear contact on the forward, Inter might have had a bigger lead.
After the break, AC Milan improved—they could not have played worse—but only a Sandro Tonali shot that hit the post really put Inter, who always carried a danger on the break, to the test.
For the second leg of the semi-final on Tuesday, Inter has the benefit of playing in front of their own supporters, back at the San Siro. In the champions league final, the winner of the draw will take on either Real Madrid or Manchester City.
The fierce rivals had not met in the Champions League since a quarter-final clash in 2005, which was abandoned when a section of Inter fans hurled flares onto the pitch.
