Image Source : AP Romelu Lukaku
Substitute Romelu Lukaku scored a last-gasp winner as Inter Milan beat Fiorentina 2-1 on Wednesday to succeed in the quarterfinals of the Italian Cup, the place it’ll face Serie A title rival AC Milan.
Lukaku headed residence a minute earlier than the tip of additional time in Florence, simply because it appeared as if the match was heading for penalties.
The rating was 1-1 on the finish of standard time after Fiorentina’s Christian Kouamé cancelled out Arturo Vidal’s opener from the penalty spot.
Inter would be the residence aspect when it performs its metropolis rival on the finish of the month. The two Milan groups are additionally main Serie A with the Rossoneri high of the league, three factors forward of second-place Inter.
Juventus hosts Genoa later within the Italian Cup and Napoli welcomes second-division Empoli.
Fiorentina is dangerously near the relegation zone in Serie A but it surely took the Nerazzurri till 5 minutes earlier than halftime to interrupt the impasse.
Christian Eriksen’s effort was parried by Pietro Terracciano. Alexis Sánchez hit the publish with the follow-up however the Fiorentina goalkeeper had introduced down the Chilean striker as he unleashed his shot and the referee pointed to the spot.
Vidal then hit the penalty down the center for his first aim for Inter.
Fiorentina was awarded a penalty of its personal moments later when Milan Škriniar appeared to foul Kouamé however the referee reversed his resolution after a video evaluation.
The hosts did equalize within the 57th minute. In a goalmouth scramble, the ball ultimately fell to Kouamé who had time to manage it earlier than blasting into the highest proper nook.
Lukaku had been rested however he was introduced on within the 69th and, moments after seeing an ideal likelihood effectively saved by Terracciano, Inter’s star ahead scored the winner, heading in Nicolò Barella’s cross from the appropriate.
