Inter Milan Clinches Italian Cup as They Gear Up for UCL Final: Report

Inter Milan defeated Fiorentina 2-1 in a comeback victory thanks to two goals from World Cup winner Lautaro Martinez as they successfully defended the Italian Cup.

The Nerazzuri clinched their back-to-back Italian Cup silverware as they came from one goal down to beat Fiorentina 2-1 in the final.

Martinez - Player for the big occasion

Despite an erratic World Cup Martinez proved to be a match winner for Inter Milan. He scored twice on Wednesday as the Nerazzurri successfully defended the Italian Cup. Martinez had previously scored crucial goals against Benfica and AC Milan to ensure Inter Milan a position in the Champions League final.

The Italian Super Cup victory over Milan in January, in which Martinez also scored, was the first title Inter has won this year. They will be aiming their treble this season when they will face PL winners Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League Final on June 10 in Istanbul.

Martinez and Inzaghi on the Win

"In all honesty, I am moved, because for a couple of years we have been bringing trophies to this great club and we’ve got to continue this way,” said Martinez, as quoted by Sportstar, who also played a crucial role when Inter won Scudetto in 2021. “I want to keep contributing for Inter, because that’s what matters.”

Martinez has now bagged 27 goals for Inter this season while playing all the 54 matches for the Nerazzuri this season.

Inter has already won nine Italian Cup championships, while Nerazzurri coach Simone Inzaghi has now triumphed in seven of his eight managerial finals.

"We started poorly and had the wrong approach, which is rare for us, but the guys did well to stay in the game anyhow and then turn it around,” Inzaghi said. “The team is improving match by match.”

Brief detail about the match

After Inter's defence made a mistake, Nicolas Gonzalez gave Fiorentina the lead three minutes into the game at the Stadio Olimpico. Gonzalez scored at the far post by knocking in a cross from Jonathan Ikone that was allowed to float over the area.

A superbly timed through ball from Marcelo Brozovic set up the equaliser as Martinez sprinted onto the pass and scored his 100th goal with Inter with an angled strike into the far corner. Then Martinez delivered an incredible volley to direct Nicolo Barella's cross into the goal that won Inter the match.