The Champions League semifinals will include a Milan derbyInter Defeats Benfica To Set Up A Milan Derby UCL Semi Finals Inter defeated Benfica on Wednesday with a 3-3 draw to finish the match 5-3 overall.
Inter needed to finish off their quarterfinal second leg against the Lisbon team after Milan advanced to the final four after eliminating Napoli on Tuesday. Inter had taken a 2-0 advantage entering the match at San Siro.
Like in the previous leg, Nicolo Barella’s brilliant finish gave Inter the lead before Fredrik Aursnes’ forceful header gave the opponents an equalizer just before halftime.
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However, late goals from Antonio Silva and Petar Musa meant Roger Schmidt’s team at least broke their current losing streak. Lautaro Martinez had given Inter the lead back before Joaquin Correa, who had come in as a substitute, scored another with a magnificent effort.
Following a one-two with Martinez, Barella gave the home team the lead in the 14th minute with a powerful strike into the top left corner. The tenacious midfielder forced his way into the Benfica area.
When Martinez’s header at the far post dribbled past Odisseas Vlachodimos in the 33rd minute, the goalkeeper for Benfica was relieved to see a foul call against the Argentine for pushing Gilberto.
Rafa Silva’s spot-on cross from the right, which allowed Aursnes to blast a bullet header past Andre Onana seven minutes before halftime, brought Benfica back into the game.
When Inter added a second goal in the 65th minute, their opponent’s hopes were effectively dashed.After exchanging passes with Henrikh Mkhitaryan on the left, Federico Dimarco crossed for Martinez, who finished into the roof of the net.
Two minutes after coming off the bench, Correa scored a third goal for Inter as he cut inside from the left and curled an effort in off the far post.
The Nerazzurri guaranteed they will play their city rivals in the semi-finals after Musa swept in a loose ball to equalize after Antonio Silva headed in for the visitors from an inswinging Alex Grimaldo free-kick.