Romelu Lukaku freed Inter Milan from the trap set by Sergio Conceicao in Porto by knocking the Dragons out to ten (1-0) at the end of the match, Wednesday 22 February at the San Siro. In the first leg of the round of 16 of the European Champions League.
“Romelo, Romelo!” , Tifosi Nerazzurri could sing, relieved, when the Belgian, who entered at the start of the second half, released the San Siro by scoring on two runs. He caught the ball, which the officials returned first with a first header, on a cross from Niccolo Barella (86th).
Onana identification
The Nerazzurri will long thank Big Room for forcing the Portuguese lock, which only yielded when the Dragons found themselves in the 10th after Ottavio (78) was ruled out for a second warning. But they will not forget their goalkeeper Andre Onana, who made many crucial saves, including a stunning double save at the start of the second half that the Portuguese strikers did not return.
If the Portuguese, defeated for the first time in four months after 22 matches without losing (in all competitions), stayed in the running, Simone Inzaghi managed a fine shot by bringing down Porto who, since Conceicao’s arrival on the bench in 2017, have taken over Italian clubs. steadily.
As expected, two former Lazio-Roma teammates played an Italian match, paying maximum attention to tactics and taking calculated risks.
Edin Dzeko, preferred to Lukaku at the start, struggled to find space and it was finally left that the danger came from the hosts, from Federico Dimarco. The team participated in the best three indoor chances in the first half.
In his midsection, Lautaro Martinez did not frame his head (13th place). Then, after a combination with Hakan Calhanoglu, from a corner kick, the Turk tested Diego Costa’s trigger with a long shot (18).
And just before the break, Dimarco this time found the head of Alessandro Bastoni, but the goalkeeper of the Portugal national team was flawless (45 + 3).
Winner Inzaghi Training
But Inter have generally been very wary, fearful of counter-attacks from the Dragons who are aggressive and compact around veteran Pepe but always ready to pounce on the counter-attack.
After a rough ejection from Milan Skriniar, Marco Grujic’s first shot was over (27). Soon after, he found the already decisive Andre Onana, and the keeper wasn’t unhappy to see Galleno put his head to one side (37th). Once resumed, the Cameroonian goalkeeper had to withdraw all stops; First on a low shot by Taremi (52nd place) then a high-flying double bouari on his line in front of Zaidu and then again Taremi (57th place)!
San Siro liked him, my Inzagi is a lot less and that’s the moment he chooses to release Lukaku. The Belgian, who also watched it firmly, almost offered the goal first to Lautaro Martinez, who is very short (72). But once Inter were 11 to 10, they were able to find space to finally release San Siro, even coming very close to doubling the ante by a step. Nice way for “Big Rom” to perhaps finally turn the page on the failed World Cup.
With AFP
