ROMELU LUKAKU was sent off for over-celebrating his 95th-minute penalty equaliser for Inter Milan at Juventus – then two more players saw red after the final whistle.
Juve scorer Juan Cuadrado and Inter keeper Samir Handanovic were dismissed in the Italian Cup semi-final first-leg flare-up.
Sub Lukaku earned his costly second yellow card for “excessive celebration” after the loan striker from Chelsea cranked up the hostile atmosphere with a silencing gesture to the home crowd.
Yet Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri claimed after the triple-red finale: “It’s nothing, just a bit of chaos at the end of a balanced game
“We knew it would be difficult. Although they were coming off a difficult period, they are still Inter and proved it tonight.”
But the controversial ending underlined the pressure being felt at Inter, especially by boss Simone Inzaghi.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
They are down to fourth – behind big rivals AC Milan – following three straight Serie A defeats.
And it could mean Inzaghi’s future depends on Inter’s cup form.
Apart from this domestic tie against Juve, they face Benfica in the Champions League quarter-finals this month.
Juventus and Inter had both gone close before the tie seemed to be drifting towards a goalless stalemate.
Most read in Football
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST FOOTBALL BETTING SITES IN THE UK
But then Colombia winger Cuadrado fired a long-range opener on 83 minutes and danced for joy.
Lukaku, though, slotted a spot-kick leveller after Juve defender Gleison Bremer handled.
But the Belgium hero paid dearly for apparently taunting the crowd by putting his finger to his lip.
That motion of silence turned up the volume – and all three players dismissed will miss the second leg on April 26.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
