In Riyadh on Thursday, Inter Milan secured their place in the Italian Super Cup final with a 2-0 victory over Atalanta, thanks to a second-half brace from Denzel Dumfries. The Dutch defender’s decisive performance propels the Serie A champions closer to claiming the Super Cup title for the fourth consecutive time.
Inter will face the winner of the upcoming match between Juventus and AC Milan in the final, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the competition.
Inter manager Simone Inzaghi fielded his strongest available lineup, demonstrating his intent to dominate the semi-final clash. In contrast, Atalanta’s Gian Piero Gasperini, already missing top scorer Mateo Retegui due to injury, made the surprising decision to leave key players Ademola Lookman and Charles De Ketelaere on the bench.
The first half concluded without goals, largely due to the heroic efforts of Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi. He denied Lautaro Martinez twice, first with a reflex save from close range and then with a remarkable double save, parrying Martinez’s powerful shot before swiftly blocking Federico Dimarco’s follow-up attempt.
Atalanta’s best opportunity in the opening half arose from an errant header by Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni, which landed at the feet of Giorgio Scalvini. However, Scalvini’s close-range header was comfortably saved by Inter’s keeper Yann Sommer.
After the break, Inter intensified their attack and were rewarded when Dumfries capitalized on a corner kick. Positioned in the six-yard box with his back to goal, he skillfully controlled the ball with a header before executing an acrobatic overhead shot that found the net.
In response, Gasperini introduced Lookman, De Ketelaere, and Ederson in an attempt to shift the momentum. Nevertheless, Inter extended their lead on a counter-attack just as Atalanta began to threaten. Dimarco’s cross-field pass missed Mehdi Taremi but fell to Dumfries, who unleashed a thunderous first-time shot that struck the crossbar and left Carnesecchi with no chance as it ricocheted into the goal.
"We know how difficult it is against Atalanta; they give us few spaces," Bastoni told SportMediaset after the match. "In these situations, individual talent must shine, and today Denzel did just this."
Martinez had an opportunity to further secure Inter’s lead when he was set up by Dimarco with only the goalkeeper to beat, but once again, Carnesecchi thwarted his effort.
Inter Milan’s victory in Riyadh not only highlights their dominance in Italian football but also underscores the growing significance of hosting major sports events in the Middle East. The presence of Italian football giants in Riyadh reflects the region’s expanding role in global sports, fostering cross-cultural engagement and offering fans in Asia an opportunity to witness top-tier European football firsthand.
Reference(s):
Dumfries' double fires Inter to Super Cup final with win over Atalanta
cgtn.com
