Inter have won the Coppa Italia for the first time in 11 years after a thrilling 4-2 extra time victory over holders Juventus, with Ivan Perisic’s brace ultimately decisive.
This was the second Final of the season between these sides, after Alexis Sanchez’s last-gasp extra time winner for Inter in the Supercoppa Italiana back in January. However, they hadn’t met in the Coppa Italia Final for 57 years, the Old Lady winning in 1959 and 1965.
Manuel Locatelli was only fit for the bench, with Mattia De Sciglio suspended, Weston McKennie, Federico Chiesa and Kaio Jorge injured, while Alessandro Bastoni was not ready to start after a calf injury. Juventus beat Atalanta in the Final last season, so we trying to retain the trophy.
It took just seven minutes to break the deadlock, as Nicolò Barella was allowed far too much time and space to cut inside from the left and curl a stunning right-foot shot into the far top corner from outside the box.
Samir Handanovic smothered a scuffed Paulo Dybala effort, but above all needed a sensational save on Dusan Vlahovic from a tricky angle, sticking out one hand to push it away from the far top corner.
Handanovic also fingertipped a Matthijs de Ligt header over the bar, from the resulting corner Dybala drilled wide on the half-volley due to Edin Dzeko flinging himself in the way.
Danilo made his comeback in this game, but didn’t even last until half-time before going off injured, replaced by far more attacking alternative Alvaro Morata.
Juventus equalised straight after the restart, as Vlahovic turned Stefan de Vrij to get his shot charged down, but Alex Sandro on the rebound drilled into the near bottom corner, with Morata doing enough to block Handanovic’s view that he didn’t see it until the last second.
Incredibly, Juve then turned it around moments later on the counter from an Inter corner, Bernardeschi chesting it down, Dybala slide-rule pass for Vlahovic, who sent Danilo D’Ambrosio to ground with a dummy before Handanovic saved the first attempt, but he fired in at the second.
Mattia Darmian tested Mattia Perin, as Inter began to pin Juve back into their own penalty area with a series of corners, which paid off when Lautaro Martinez went down as he was sandwiched between Leonardo Bonucci and De Ligt, two half-fouls creating one. Hakan Calhanoglu converted the penalty with sheer power into the roof of the net, simply unstoppable.
Tension was sky high and it went to extra time, just like the Supercoppa Italiana in January. Alexis Sanchez’s half-volley was powerful, but straight at Perin, then the referee awarded another penalty to Inter after a VAR on-field review, as De Ligt was again involved, catching De Vrij with a knee. Ivan Perisic fired also into the roof of the net with his right foot for Inter to go 3-2 up.
Moments later, Perisic extended the Nerazzurri’s advantage with a ferocious left-foot screamer into the top corner from the edge of the box with his stronger left foot.
Max Allegri was arguing with Simone Inzaghi’s assistant manager Massimiliano Farris throughout the match and it spilled over after Inter’s celebrations, leading to the Juventus boss being sent off in a rage.
Juventus 2-4 Inter (aet)
Barella 7 (I), Alex Sandro 50 (J), Vlahovic 52 (J), Calhanoglu pen 80 (I), Perisic pen 99, 102 (I)
Sent off: Allegri 104 (J)
Of course Inter can’t sign Dybala, they wasted his signing on fee on bribing the ref
Allegri had to leave early to get in cue for Super League tickets…
Allegri chooses to defend a lead with a goal as if he were the coach of Genoa. Completely stupid. Re-hiring him was a huge mistake. He represents another era in football.
#allegriout, 9M salary, no title, much worse than pirlo
This result does not change the fact that Allegri has reached UCL final 2 times. A life-time contract should be awarded for him.
There is a reason why Juventus want a super league. Series A needs to think and develop. You can start with your rotting stadiums.
Allegri fans will be happy with the result since he took Juve to 2 UCL finals.
Like anyone remembers second place.
Ref won today again.
It is not surprising at all that with the continued use of var, juve will now go a second season finishing outside the top two! Before Var, the officials will have never taken the risk of giving those penalties simply due to repercussions and impending bullying by the juvebtus hierarchy!
CALMA!!! NOrata will find the excuses, but we must wait for him to come out under his mom’s bed. All hail PhD Max, conquerer, scholar and Legend of the back, back, down, down. He loves a 4 goal thrashing (Real Madrid + Chelsea + Inter).
@carl what do you suggest selling club’s to foreigners like in the Premiership and hiring only foreign managers?
Shout out to the Dutch Phil Jones who loves gifting Inter presents. Special mention to Pellegrini for pint point crossing accuracy and Kean for that wilderness cross/shot. But the Oscar goes to PhD Omicron Variant 2.0 Max. Defending a 2-1 lead and sitting deeper then ever before is why he gets thrashed in CL finals and knock outs. An old dog can never learn new tricks. To be beaten 3 times by Inzaghi sums it all up. Bring in Sir Chris Hughton, Eddie Howe or the manager of Tranmere Rovers in now LMAO.
@ SNAKE. 16 of the 22 players who started tonight’s match between Italy’s two biggest teams were foreigners. Don´t come to me with that. Develop your game your arenas, then someone may want to buy your teams. Instead of complaining that we in England have thought about our football.
@Lord, got to admit you were right. We will be back but I cannot see this happening as long as Allegri is still given the keys. The only hope is for John Elkann to get rid of Agnelli and usher in changes from top to bottom. The fish always rots the from the head down.
Does Dybala get a winners medal considering he is practically an Inter player? I bet he must be celebrating in the Inter changing room with Lautaro.
Juve will need a braver manager and several new players to get back to where they were.
Allegri is afraid of his own shadow when he’s leading in a game, and the likes of Chiesa and Vlahovic must be dreading playing in his negative system.
I doubt Juve will sack him in the summer, though.
Thank you Pirlo for the 2 Trophies last season. So will we be hearing a year’s contract extension for this bus driver as he delivered exactly what this season?? Oh sorry I forgot he is building that’s right building on from a not so bad season last term to end up playing crap football and end the season with sweet FA this term. Let the bus driver build another season of rubbish football, early exit from CL and build on and on and on, let us know Allegri fans when he’s done building please. So we can then discuss another building project he will start at Juventus. Exiting times. Build away..
I want to thank ACM1899 and Mustafa for best wishes. ACM1899, unfortunately for me, scudetto is yours. Mustafa, you’ll dominate again from next seasons.
You told me weeks ago that the Coppa was on lock down. PhD Max tried to lock it down with 30 minutes to go and with 3 defenders lol. Tell me Einstein, who does that in today’s game? Watch more football as you are unemployed and have the time. Not even Mikel Arteta does that. But credit to young coaches like him who are forward thinking, gives youth a chance and has a style of play that one can relate to.
@Carl – 17 of 22 players who started City-Liverpool FA Cup 17 April were foreigners. 16 of 22 starters for their EPL match 17 April were foreigners. Chelsea rarely start more than 2 English players. All the best clubs start multinational all-stars – Real started just 1 Spaniard vs Man City last week.
We conceeded too many penalties which of 2 last night shall not have came out of the like of senior Bonucci or 1st team De Ligt with both events seems unnecessary The lost in Allianz and villareal you can also consider unnecessary foul.
The season is pretty much concluded from Max point of view..Pirlo with his 2 silverwares and +40goals aggregate more attractive style was not considered not enough to get his 2nd season. Lets see how Max survived his barren tactic now, which is the worst of those top 10 positions in the league.
@Farid
Inter CEO Beppe Marotta:
“We have to remember that looking at the statistics, we are the top scorers in Serie A this season, so we clearly have a strong strike force.
With that in mind, we are happy with our forwards and want to continue with the players that we already have.”
Inter don’t need Dybala, always injured. Much better to reach an economic agreement and extending Perisic contract at once.
@Zambrotta, @Me
Chiellini: ‘Inter proved throughout the season they are stronger.’
Pirlo was sacked for much less. Clearly Juventus needs to reinforce the squad in all postions.
Out: Sandro, Bernardeschi, Kulusevski, McKennie, Arrhur, Kean, Dybala, Rabiot, Morata, Rugani, Danilo and of course Allegri!
Congratulations to Inter. There is no question this was a well deserved trophy.
Forza Milan!
Congratulations to the 2nd placed team on winning the 2nd tier trophy!
@Carl if it wasn’t for foreign mercenaries that go to the highest bidders the Premiership would be an average league.
Bring back the 3 foreigner rule then we will see which is the best league.
Clubs are forced to overspend just to try and keep up.
The only thing Premiership has done is introduce ridiculous salaries and transfers fees. Grealish 100 million? That says it all