December 20, (THEWILL) – Inter Milan crashed out of the Coppa Italia last night in a dramatic 2-1 defeat to Bologna after extra time. The match was goalless in normal time despite chances for both sides. Inter took the lead in the 92nd minute through Carlos Augusto but two late Bologna goals from Sam Beukema and Dan Ndoye completed a stunning turnaround.
The quarter-final tie remained cagey and goalless in the first half. Inter striker, Lautaro Martinez, had the best chance to break the deadlock when he won a 65th-minute penalty but saw his effort saved. The stalemate continued into extra time before Augusto headed Inter in front.
However, Bologna equalised through Beukema just eight minutes from time. Then deep in extra time, Ndoye latched onto a brilliant through ball from Joshua Zirkzee before calmly chipping the Inter keeper to seal a dramatic 2-1 win. It ended Inter’s hopes of a third successive Coppa Italia crown.
The defeat meant Inter failed to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2018-19. Manager Simone Inzaghi will be bitterly disappointed after his side dictated much of the play. Yet, Bologna showed tremendous spirit to fight back and progress to the final four of the competition.
It continues Inter’s inconsistent season domestically. Despite beating Serie A champions AC Milan in the Super Cup last month, they currently sit fourth in the league table. This dramatic cup exit is another blow for Inzaghi in a campaign that promised so much.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
