Fiorentina 1-2 Inter Milan (AET): Lukaku scores last-gasp winner

Fiorentina 1-2 Inter Milan (AET): Romelu Lukaku scores last-gasp winner to set up Coppa Italia quarter-final showdown with rivals AC Milan

  • Romelu Lukaku came to the rescue for Antonio Conte on Wednesday night
  • Penalties had been beckoning with the two sides locked at 1-1 in extra time 
  • Belgian was left unmarked to power home Nicolo Barella’s cross at the death
  • Arturo Vidal penalty had given Inter lead before Christian Kouame equalised 

Inter Milan needed an extra-time winner from substitute Romelu Lukaku to beat Fiorentina 2-1 in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday and book a meeting with rivals AC Milan in the quarter-finals.

Alexis Sanchez was in the thick of the action in the first half, hitting the post from close range, before he was later fouled in the penalty area, with Arturo Vidal stepping up to give Inter the lead with a 40th minute spot kick.

Inter, who also fielded the little used Christian Eriksen, were furious when the referee awarded another penalty moments later at the other end, with Milan Skriniar appearing to win the ball, but the decision was overturned after VAR intervened.

Lautaro Martinez then had a glorious chance to put Inter two goals in front and his miss proved costly as Christian Kouame thundered home a 57th-minute equaliser for Fiorentina.

Sanchez was guilty of another glaring miss as Inter failed to find a winner in normal time but Lukaku headed home in the 119th minute to send them through to face Milan, who beat Torino on penalties in their last-16 clash on Tuesday.

More to follow 

Romelu Lukaku’s last-gasp winner sent Inter Milan into the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia

Lukaku was unmarked in the penalty area as he met Nicolo Barella’s cross into the box

Lukaku is embraced by team-mates after his winner in the last minute of extra time

Alexis Sanchez reacts as a chance goes begging in Inter’s clash with Fiorentina on Wednesday

Arturo Vidal had given Inter Milan a first half lead from the penalty spot in Florence

Christian Kouame kicks the corner flag as he celebrates his equaliser for the hosts

Antonio Conte issues instructions from the touchline during the cup clash on Wednesday

MATCH FACTS 

FIORENTINA : Terracciano, Milenkovic, Martinez Quarta, dos Santos de Paulo, Caceres (Venuti 53), Amrabat, Castrovilli, Biraghi, Eysseric (Vlahovic 52), Bonaventura, Kouame (Callejon 97)

Subs not used: Valero, Duncan, Pezzella, Barreca, Montiel, Krastev, Dalle Mura, Brancolini, Dragowski

Goalscorers: Kouame 57

Booked: dos Santos de Paulo, Eysseric, Bonaventura, Kouame

INTER MILAN: Handanovic, Skriniar (de Vrij 61), Ranocchia, Kolarov, Young (Hakimi 69), Vidal (Brozovic 94) Eriksen, Gagliardini (Barella 81), Perisic, Sanchez, Martinez (Lukaku 69)

Subs not used: Sensi, Padelli, Bastoni,

Goalscorers: Vidal 40 pen, Lukaku 119

Booked: Skriniar, Ranocchia, Hakimi, Vidal, Eriksen, Sanchez, Lukaku

Referee: Davide Massa

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