ROMELU LUKAKU unbelievably blocked Alexis Sanchez’s last-minute goal-bound header as Inter Milan crashed out of the Champions League.
The Serie A side finished bottom of Group B following the 0-0 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk – who were also knocked out.
Alexis Sanchez was denied by Romelu Lukaku in the dying stages of the gameCredit: Reuters
The Italian giants huffed and puffed for 90 minutes at the San Siro desperately trying to find the winner they needed to progress.
And when Antonio Conte’s side were eventually granted the clearest of chances, in the dying seconds, they were denied by main man Lukaku.
With 88 minutes on the clock, fellow ex-Man Utd frontman Sanchez leapt highest to meet a corner and produced a bullet header destined for the back of the net.
But instead it clattered into the face of Lukaku, who was standing in an offside position.
Inter Milan, who thumped Shakhtar 5-0 in last season’s Europa League semi-finals in August, needed to win to qualify.
They also had to see the other match, between Real Madrid and Borussia Moenchengladbach, not end in a draw.
As Madrid won that game 2-0, Monchengladbach needed Inter’s game to end as a draw to see them go through.
And incredible footage showed the Bundesliga side huddled at the side of the pitch after full-time, watching the end of Inter’s game on a tablet.
Inter Milan had 20 shots on goal, but failed to break the deadlock against Shahktar.
Romelu Lukaku was unable to find a breakthrough for Inter MilanCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Lautaro Martinez nearly got the early breakthrough they needed but his shot thumped against the crossbar from Nicolo Barella’s cross.
After that, Inter forced a succession of corners and tried their luck from long range but gave Shakhtar’s 19-year-old goalkeeper Anatolii Trubin little worry about.
Lukaku saw a header stopped by Trubin after the break before Shakhtar – who also required a win to qualify – began to mount some attacks of their own.
Tete, one of six Brazilian-born players in Shakhtar’s starting line-up, tested Samir Handanovic with a fizzing long-range shot and Maycon sent the rebound over the bar.
Trubin pushed a Christian Eriksen drive out from under the bar in stoppage time as Inter’s European season came to an underwhelming conclusion.
It is the third season in a row that Inter Milan have been knocked out in the group stages.
And they have no European football to look forward to in the New Year, as a draw meant Shakhtar took third spot, and a consolation place in the Europa League knockout stages.
Inter Milan finished bottom of their Champions League group Credit: AP:Associated Press
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
