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)