Alexis Sanchez pounced on a defensive error in the final seconds of extra time, as Inter beat Juventus 2-1 to lift the Supercoppa Italiana at San Siro.
The Nerazzurri had practically a full squad to choose from, with Edin Dzeko back after recovering from COVID, the team coming off eight consecutive Serie A victories. However, Juve had Federico Chiesa out for the season after knee surgery, Matthijs de Ligt and Juan Cuadrado suspended, Wojciech Szczesny unavailable after getting his COVID vaccine late, Danilo and Aaron Ramsey injured, Leonardo Bonucci not fully fit.
This is traditionally the clash between the Scudetto holders and Coppa Italia winners, which used to be played in August, but in recent years has shifted to December or January.
Dzeko’s header was just over the bar from Ivan Perisic’s cross in the opening minutes, then Stefan de Vrij nodded inches wide on a corner and Lautaro Martinez horribly mis-kicked after a Nicolò Barella assist.
Barella had penalty appeals waved away after 12 minutes, as the referee and VAR judged it to be shoulder-to-shoulder with Giorgio Chiellini.
It took a good 20 minutes for Juve to emerge from their shell, Milan Skriniar’s block on Weston McKennie as he met a Federico Bernardeschi roll across from four yards.
However, they did take the lead with the first real scoring opportunity. Alvaro Morata saw his cross deflected into the six-yard box, where McKennie was allowed a free header, getting round the back of Stefan de Vrij. The American celebrated with his Harry Potter wand gesture.
Inter got back on level terms when Mattia De Sciglio chased down a Perisic back-heel flick and didn’t seem to realise Dzeko was sprinting up across him, getting to the ball first and going down. The referee pointed to the spot and Lautaro Martinez fired into the top corner to equalise.
Adrien Rabiot risked an own goal with his defensive header, while Alessandro Bastoni appealed, but seemed to seek contact with Kulusevski and Rabiot made a decisive tackle on Perisic after a Dzeko back-heel.
After the restart, Bernardeschi scuffed wide from 14 yards when relatively undisturbed, then fired over the bar after skipping away from defenders.
Mattia Perin made a sensational save, fingertipping the Denzel Dumfries header onto the woodwork from point-blank range as Calhanoglu’s cross found him at the back post.
Lautaro Martinez couldn’t get enough power on the header from Perisic’s cross to beat Perin, but it was 1-1 after 94 minutes and went to extra time.
Alexis Sanchez turned a free header inches wide on the Calhanoglu corner, while Paulo Dybala blasted off target from distance and Marcelo Brozovic’s attempt was charged down in the box.
Incredibly, the Juve bench were urging their players to foul someone so that Leonardo Bonucci could come on in order to take a penalty. Instead, they were distracted, as Federico Dimarco’s cross was chested down by Alex Sandro too meekly, Chiellini was harassed by Matteo Darmian and Alexis Sanchez got to the tap-in before Rugani to win it right at the death.
Inter 2-1 Juventus (aet)
McKennie 25 (J), Lautaro Martinez pen 35 (I), Alexis Sanchez 120 (I)