MILAN: Inter Milan ousted crosstown rivals AC Milan for the first time in a European knock-out tie to reach the Champions League final, beating them 1-0 on Tuesday for an aggregate 3-0 semi-final triumph, reported German news agency (dpa).
Lautaro Martinez settled the affair with a tight-angle shot in the 74th minute, after early goals from Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan last week had put Inter in command of the derby.
Milan were able to welcome back influential Portuguese winger Rafael Leao back from an adductor injury but rarely threatened on a wet night at the San Siro. Leao aimed wide on their best chance in the first half.
Three-time winners Inter reached the final of Europe’s showcase event for the sixth time. Their last appearance was in 2010 when they beat Bayern Munich as part of a title treble.
In the June 10 final in Istanbul, they will face either title holders and record 14-times winners Real Madrid or Manchester City, with that tie locked at 1-1 going into Wednesday’s return leg in England.
Seven-time champions Milan had eliminated Inter in the 2003 semis and also in the 2005 quarter-finals when they were declared winners of the return leg which was abandoned after Inter fans had thrown fireworks onto the pitch with one them hitting Milan goalkeeper Dida.
Tuesday’s win means that Inter have won all four games against Milan in 2023, without conceding a goal: 3-0 in the Italian Super Cup, 1-0 in Serie A, and 2-0 and 1-0 in the Champions League. – BERNAMA-dpa
