In a captivating Italian Cup semi-final first leg at the San Siro, Inter Milan and AC Milan battled to a 1-1 draw, leaving everything to play for in the second leg later this month.
The match ignited in the 49th minute when AC Milan’s star forward, Tammy Abraham, showcased his brilliance. Capitalizing on a lapse in Inter’s defense, Abraham made a quick turn and unleashed a drilled finish past goalkeeper Samir Handanović, marking his ninth goal of the season.
Inter Milan responded with determination. In the 67th minute, Turkish captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu leveled the score with a low shot that slipped past Milan’s goalkeeper, Mike Maignan. “It was an even game. Milan had a few chances and so did we, but in the second half we played a bit better,” Çalhanoğlu commented post-match. “It was important not to lose today because we still have the other match to play.”
Both sides pushed for a winner, but strong defensive performances kept the scoreline unchanged. The draw reflects the intense rivalry and equal prowess of the two Italian giants.
AC Milan, under pressure after a recent defeat to Napoli, showed resilience. Their coach expressed optimism, saying, “It was a good game against a difficult opponent. We had to play well defensively, and that’s what we did, so I’m happy with the approach and we have to keep it up.”
Inter Milan, chasing a treble this season and leading in Serie A, aim to carry this momentum forward as they prepare for their Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich.
The winner of this tie is set to face Bologna in next month’s final in Rome, after Bologna comfortably defeated Empoli 3-0 earlier this week. Football fans are eagerly awaiting the second leg to see which Milanese titan will advance.
