Martinez double secures Italian Cup for Inter
Lautaro Martinez scored twice as Champions League finalists Inter Milan got here from behind to beat Fiorentina 2-1 and retain their Italian Cup title on Wednesday.
Nicolas Gonzalez gave Fiorentina an early lead on the Stadio Olimpico, however Martinez drilled Inter degree after which volleyed within the winner earlier than half-time for Simone Inzaghi’s crew.
Inter’s ninth Italian Cup triumph moved them degree with Roma. Solely Juventus, with 14 titles, have lifted the trophy extra usually.
“I am so joyful as a result of we have been profitable trophies with this nice membership the previous two years,” Martinez, who additionally helped Inter win Serie A in 2021 and final 12 months’s Italian Cup, informed Mediaset.
“We now have to maintain going like that. We actually wished to elevate one other cup tonight. We began badly within the first quarter-hour however then we did what we must always have performed from the start.”
Six-time winners Fiorentina have been denied a primary trophy since 2001, however the membership may nonetheless finish the season with silverware having reached the ultimate of the Europa Convention League.
They face West Ham in Prague on June 7, three days earlier than Inter tackle Premier League champions Manchester City within the Champions League remaining in Istanbul.
“We need to play the whole lot in one of the simplest ways attainable. We now have two matches left within the league after which afterwards there will be Istanbul,” mentioned Inzaghi.
Fiorentina, the primary membership to succeed in the ultimate of 4 completely different main European competitions, made a dream begin in Rome as Gonzalez turned in Jonathan Ikone’s threaded cross on the far publish.
Sofyan Amrabat rolled an effort broad from the sting of the world as Fiorentina threatened a second, with Inter striker Edin Dzeko scooping over after he was performed in by Martinez.
The Argentine ahead made no such mistake after Marcelo Brozovic slipped him via on 29 minutes, hammering low into the nook previous Pietro Terracciano for his one hundredth objective in Inter colors.
Martinez struck once more eight minutes later as he lashed in Nicolo Barella’s hooked supply from the best.
Fiorentina, who overcame Basel within the remaining seconds of additional time final week in Europe, pushed till the tip with Luka Jovic twice going shut.
The Serbian striker was denied by a improbable cease from veteran Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic earlier than heading one other probability narrowly broad.
Gonzalez practically pressured further time after bursting into the field and looping a header over Handanovic after his shot was blocked, however Matteo Darmian headed to security as Inter clung on for victory.