A second-half brace from Denzel Dumfries propelled Inter Milan to a 2-0 victory over Atalanta in Riyadh on Thursday, securing their place in the Italian Super Cup final. The Serie A champions will now aim to clinch the trophy for the fourth consecutive time.
Inter will face off against the winner between Juventus and AC Milan for the coveted title.
Inter manager Simone Inzaghi fielded his strongest available lineup, while Atalanta’s Gian Piero Gasperini, already missing top scorer Mateo Retegui due to injury, surprisingly left both Ademola Lookman and Charles De Ketelaere on the bench.
The first half ended goalless, largely thanks to Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi, who made a series of impressive saves. He first denied Lautaro Martinez with a reflex stop from close range. Moments later, Carnesecchi pulled off a remarkable double save, first parrying a powerful shot from Martinez and then quickly recovering to thwart Federico Dimarco’s rebound effort.
Atalanta had a significant chance when Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni’s poor headed clearance set up Giorgio Scalvini with a header from close range, but he sent it straight into the hands of keeper Yann Sommer.
After the interval, Inter pressed forward and broke the deadlock when Dumfries capitalized on a loose ball in the six-yard box. With his back to goal, the Dutchman controlled the ball with a header before executing an overhead kick into the net.
In response, Gasperini introduced Lookman, De Ketelaere, and Ederson, seeking to shift the momentum. However, Inter struck again on a counter-attack just as Atalanta began to apply pressure. Dimarco’s crossfield pass missed Mehdi Taremi but fell to Dumfries, who unleashed a scorching first-time shot that crashed in off the crossbar, leaving Carnesecchi with no chance.
“We know how difficult it is against Atalanta; they give us few spaces,” Inter’s Bastoni told SportMediaset. “In these situations, individual talent must shine, and today Denzel did just this.”
Lautaro Martinez had an opportunity to extend Inter’s lead when set up by Dimarco, but once again, Carnesecchi denied him in a one-on-one situation.
Reference(s):
Dumfries' double fires Inter to Super Cup final with win over Atalanta
cgtn.com
