Inter’s magnificent turnaround for Coppa Italia final

Since taking over as Como manager, Cesc Fabregas made a formidable force out of the team which he partly owns and even became a hot coaching name in Europe. Como became a club which was in the headlines due to excellent results and attacking football. But when they face Inter Milan, Como players just can’t hold on to the lead. In the last couple of weeks, Como and Inter played three games and apart from the first leg of the Coppa Italia, when the result was 0-0, in other matches it was the same story: Como was the better opponent and took an early lead, only to allow Inter to make a comeback and win. In Serie A nine days ago, Fabregas’ men were leading 2-0 and ended up losing 4-3. In tonight’s second leg of the Coppa Italia, Como were again leading 2-0 and lost the game 3-2, sending Inter to the finals.

Inter remain undefeated against Como in the Coppa Italia, with a record of seven wins and four draws, including the first leg of this season's competition. But if it wasn’t for keeper Martinez, super-sub Sučić and midfielder Calhanoglu, things might have been different. This trio did their job according to their positions: Martinez kept Inter alive with some great saves, Sučić came in instead of poor Zielinski and assisted for two goals before adding the winner one minute from time, while the Turkish midfielder took the responsibility while others couldn’t a scored a brace.

The excitement started from the first minute and the guests were all over Inter. In the eight minute Nico Paz ran from the left and crossed the ball to Baturina who unleashed a powerful right-footed shot into the top corner, but the Inter goalkeeper made a great save and tipped it out for a corner. After the corner kick, Kempf leaped higher than anyone else and headed the ball into the top corner, but the ball hit the woodwork. After two great chances in the space of a few seconds, the game slowed a bit but Como still had the control and scored after half an hour. It was Baturina again, but this time Martinez couldn’t save his goal. Brempt passed through Dimarco and assisted to Como’s forward who was all alone in the penalty area. Inter’s only chance, but a good one, happened in the 37th minute, when Thuram headed a ball straight into the goal, only to see Van der Brempt clear the ball off the goal line.

Da Cunha had a good shot from distance in the first half and the same player gave Como a shocking lead in the 48th minute. Niko Paz gave him the ball in open space and while Inter defenders arrived, he calmly put the ball into the opposite corner for 2-0. Only then Inter started to play some real football and Hakan Calhanoglu tried a desperate shot from distance but Butez was there. Still, the Turkish midfielder managed to score for Inter in the 69th minute from 20 meters after an assist from Sučić. The Inter substitute recorded the second assist of the night, again to Calhanoglu in the 86th minute, and Inter managed to come back. Como can only blame themselves for that as the guest had a perfect opportunity in the 70th minute, when Acerbi made a mistake and allowed Diao to be one on one with Martinez but Como player took a poor shot and the Inter keeper saved it. The punishment came in the 89th minute when Sučić scored the winner and completed Inter’s total turnaround.

COPPA ITALIA - SEMIFINALS

Tuesday

Inter - Como 3-2 (0-1)

/Calhanoglu 69, 86, Sucic 89 - Baturina 32, Da Cunha 48/

Inter win 3-2 on aggregate

Wednesday

22.00: (1.80) Atalanta (3.60) Lazio (4.60)

***odds are subject to change***