Inter top Serie A after derby victory

Source:Reuters Published: 2020/2/10 18:23:42

AC Milan downed by Nerazzurri’s second-half comeback


Inter Milan players celebrate their 4-2 victory over AC Milan at the end of the Milan derby at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Sunday in Milan, Italy. Photo: VCG





Inter Milan went top of Serie A on Sunday after completing a remarkable second-half comeback to overturn a two-goal deficit and beat AC Milan 4-2.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic set up Ante Rebic's opener before scoring with a header, as Milan held a deserved 2-0 lead at the break. But a Marcelo Brozovic volley and Matias Vecino strike in the space of two minutes saw Inter draw level at the start of the second half, before Stefan de Vrij's header put them in front in the 70th minute.

Ibrahimovic hit the post with a late header as Milan pressed for an equalizer, but Antonio Conte's side sealed the win in stoppage time through a Romelu Lukaku header.

Inter move into first place on goal difference, after catching Juventus on 54 points following their 2-1 defeat by Hellas Verona on Saturday, while Milan are 10th with 32 points.

Conte admitted Inter can dare to dream of the title ahead of a week that will test his team's credentials.

Inter host Napoli in the Coppa Italia semifinal first leg on Wednesday, before travelling to third-placed Lazio on Sunday, who are one point behind them in the standings.

"It's still very early to talk about something we can only dream of for now," the Inter coach told Sky Italia. "It's a very intense period for us coming up and after that we'll have a better idea of our potential and our real capabilities.

"We must face important matches, starting from Wednesday's with Napoli, then Lazio, who have really strengthened over the years.

"We can't achieve everything from one day to the next, but we are building. These guys proved they have great strength and guts today."

Milan started strongly, coming close when Hakan Calhanoglu smashed a low shot off the post from outside the box. They took a deserved lead five minutes before the break when Ibrahimovic headed a lofted pass into the path of Rebic for a tap-in.

Ibrahimovic then netted during the first half stoppage time, heading in at the back post after Franck Kessie directed a corner into his path, making the Swede the oldest player to score in the famous fixture at the age of 38 years and 129 days.

However, Inter completed a stunning comeback in the space of just two minutes at the start of the second half.

"We stopped playing, the team stopped believing, we stopped pressing, didn't pass it around enough," said Ibrahimovic. "From the equalizer onward, everything collapsed."

Inter have now won four consecutive Milan derbies in Serie A for the first time since 1983.

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