JUVENTUS came from behind at the San Siro as Cristiano Ronaldo netted twice for the visitors in their Coppa Italia semi-final.
- Final score: Inter 1-2 Juventus
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THANKS FOR JOINING US
That’s all from us tonight, but the two teams do it all over again in just a week’s time in the second leg for a place in the Coppa Italia final.
Before that though Inter have a tricky away fixture to negotiate as they travel to Fiorentina as the Serie A title race resumes.
Juventus meanwhile host Roma in what is a mouthwatering clash between third and fourth in the league.
Unlike other years, the Scudetto title race could go right down to the wire this season.
In the Coppa Italia though, join us this time next week for the second leg of this tie.
Can Inter turn things around, or will Juventus advance to the final to face either Napoli or Atalanta?
We’ll find out next week.
Thanks for joining us tonight, it’s been a pleasure.
MATCH REPORT
Plenty to talk about from an entertaining encounter at San Siro.
The home side took the lead inside ten minutes thanks to Lautaro Martinez, before Ashley Young gave away a penalty for a pull on Cuadrado, which was given after the referee consulted VAR.
Cristiano Ronaldo thundered home from the spot, before Ronaldo capitalised on a mix-up between Handanovic and Bastoni and expertly squeezed the ball into the empty net.
Next week we do it all over again in the second leg in Turin, but Inter have got it all to do if they want to reach the Coppa Italia semi-final.
CLICK HERE TO READ OUR MATCH REPORT
FULL TIME STATS
The stats suggest a fairly game, which it was.
Both teams had dominant spells, but the brilliance of Cristiano Ronaldo proved to be the difference between the sides.
AT THE DOUBLE
Cristiano Ronaldo whipped out his trademark celebration after netting twice at San Siro.
CELEBRATIONS
Andrea Pirlo celebrates with Merih Demiral after the full time whistle.
Credit: AP:Associated Press
RONALDO’S NIGHT
Cristiano Ronaldo was on hand to bag a brace and give Juventus the advantage before the next week’s second leg.
His first goal was an unstoppable spot kick, before a brilliant finish to put the visitors ahead.
INTER 1-2 JUVENTUS
So Inter will have to come from behind in Turin if they want to reach the Coppa Italia final.
The second half was quite as entertaining as the first, but all the hard work was done by Juventus before the break.
After that it was just a matter of seeing the game out, although Buffon was called into action once to deny Darmian with an excellent save.
Merih Demiral also made a superb goal-line clearance to deny Alexis Sanchez.
Inter will welcome back Romelu Lukaku for the second leg, but have they left themselves too much to do?
PEEEEEEP!
THAT’S FULL TIME!
INTER 1-2! JUVENTUS
JUVE HAVE THE ADVANTAGE AFTER THE FIRST LEG OF THIS COPPA ITALIA SEMI-FINAL!
INTER 1-2 JUVENTUS
94. Yellow card.
I can’t even work out who has been booked this time, as the yellow card is brandished yet again.
It’s Skriniar I think who is the latest man to go into the book.
It’s absolute chaos at the San Siro, with players hitting the deck seemingly even twenty seconds.
INTER 1-2 JUVENTUS
93. Added time seems to be passing with little incident, as Alex Sandro wins a free kick from Pinamonte.
That might be that, as Juventus are taking plenty of time to take this one.
INTER 1-2 JUVENTUS
91. Inter yellow card.
Alexis Sanchez takes a heavy touch and clatters into Chiesa and is booked for his troubles.
There’s huge cries from the Juventus bench as the tackle comes in.
Both teams have been very vocal all night in trying to get opposition players booked.
INTER 1-2 JUVENTUS
90. Four minutes of added time are indicated by the fourth official.
Can Inter fashion one last chance to level the tie?
INTER 1-2 JUVENTUS
89. Juventus substitutions.
McKennie and Kulusevski are being replaced by Chiellini and Chiesa for the last couple of minutes.
INTER 1-2 JUVENTUS
88. McKennie tries his luck from range but curls his effort straight into the hands of Handanovic.
Handanovic then launches a long throw forward to try and set Inter on the attack, but Arthur steps in and wins a foul off Sanchez.
The Juve players are seeing this game out professionally.
INTER 1-2 JUVENTUS
87. The game is starting to get a little bit scrappy now as Juve are happy to give away fouls in the middle of the pitch to slow the game down.
INTER 1-2 JUVENTUS
86. Pinamonti is straight into the action on the right wing, and is met by a firm challenge from De Ligt.
He wants a free kick, but the referee indicates it’s just a throw in.
INTER 1-2 JUVENTUS
85. Inter changes.
Brozovic and Bastoni are coming off for Pinamonti and Sensi for the final five minutes.
INTER 1-2 JUVENTUS
84. Martinez catches out Cuadrado on the edge of the Juventus box and plays the ball to Brozovic.
He spreads it wide to Darmian who tries to cross into the box but his delivery is blocked and Juve survive.
INTER 1-2 JUVENTUS
83. Now Juventus have a longer spell of possession.
They’ve got seven minutes left plus stoppage time to take a first leg lead back to Turin.
INTER 1-2 JUVENTUS
81. It’s Inter who are doing all the pressing, but Juventus look dangerous on the break.
Morata tries to counter, but he does not have the pace of Ronaldo and the attack breaks down.
ACTION SHOT
Into the final ten minutes at the San Siro.
Credit: Reuters
INTER 1-2 JUVENTUS
78. Inter then win a free kick on the right wing that Eriksen is standing over.
His cross is too long though, and sails harmlessly out of play.
INTER 1-2 JUVENTUS
77. Juventus play themselves into trouble again!
Rabiot gives it away on the edge of his own box, before the ball is worked to Eriksen eighteen yards out.
He has plenty of time to shoot, but can only tamely strike his effort into the arms of Buffon.
INTER 1-2 JUVENTUS
76. Juventus substitutions.
Andrea Pirlo is making a double switch.
A confusing looking Cristiano Ronaldo shakes his head as he and Bentancur are replaced by Morata and Artur.
Ronaldo wanted a hat-trick.
INTER 1-2 JUVENTUS
75. Half a chance for Inter.
Perisic whips a cross into the box that is acrobatically met by Barella with a scissor kick, but his effort is three or four yards wide of the post.
It would have been some goal, but it never troubled Buffon between the sticks.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
