Rome, May 25 (BNA): Striker Lautaro Martinez scored twice as Inter Milan beat Fiorentina 2-1 and clinch their consecutive Coppa Italia title at Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday.
With the two sides set for major European finals next month and meeting for the first time in a major domestic final, Inter made nine changes from Sunday’s defeat at Napoli, with in-form striker Romelu Lukaku starting off the bench and Samir Handanovic replacing Andre Onana in goal. .
Fiorentina took the lead after three minutes when Jonathan Akon sent in a cross that found Nico Gonzalez unmarked at the back post, and volleyed home, Reuters reports.
Edin Dzeko had a chance to equalize midway through the half, but was unable to keep the ball as goalkeeper Pietro Terraciano sprinted and sent his shot over the bar.
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi told Mediaset: “We started badly and followed the wrong approach, which is rare for us, but the players did a good job to stay in the game anyway and then turn things around.”
“I’m happy, because we won the trophy we wanted, to confirm what we did last season. Fiorentina is a good team that caused us a lot of problems.”
Inter had a successful season, retaining the Italian Cup and the Italian Super Cup and reaching the Champions League final next month against Manchester City.
“We have the last two matches in the Italian League, then in Istanbul and a great season that we want to continue,” Inzaghi added.
Argentine Martinez equalized with a shot from a narrow angle in the 29th minute and followed it up with a close-range shot high into the net eight minutes later.
Fiorentina rarely threatened to get back into the game, and Terraciano showcased his goalkeeping skills with a superb double save to deny Lukaku a powerful shot and follow up Federico Dimarco.
Fiorentina’s best chance to equalise came when Handanovic saved Luka Jovic’s goal but Inter held on comfortably before celebrating their ninth Coppa Italia title.
Fiorentina will face West Ham United in the Conference League final on June 7 and Inter will play City in the Champions League final on June 10.
ZHB