Inter Milan secured a thrilling comeback victory to retain their Italian Cup title, defeating Fiorentina 2-1 in the final.
Fiorentina’s Nicolas Gonzalez opened the scoring at the Stadio Olimpico, but Inter’s Lautaro Martinez responded with two superb goals before halftime to secure the win for Simone Inzaghi’s side.
Martinez’s double strike not only sealed Inter’s ninth Italian Cup triumph but also moved them level with Roma in terms of titles won. Only Juventus, with 14 victories, have a better record in the competition.
Expressing his joy after the match, Martinez spoke of his satisfaction with the team’s success over the past two years. Inter had previously clinched the Serie A title in 2021 and last year’s Italian Cup. The Argentine forward emphasized the importance of maintaining this winning mentality moving forward.
Despite missing out on the Italian Cup, Fiorentina still have an opportunity to end the season with silverware. They have reached the final of the Europa Conference League and will face West Ham in Prague on June 7.
Inter, on the other hand, has a highly anticipated Champions League final against Premier League champions Manchester City in Istanbul just three days later.
Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Italiano expressed his team’s disappointment but urged them to regroup and focus on the upcoming final in Prague. Fiorentina, known for being the first club to reach the final of four different major European competitions, are determined to bring the trophy home and seek redemption.
In the final itself, Fiorentina made a dream start as Gonzalez converted Jonathan Ikone’s cross to give them an early lead. However, Martinez quickly turned the tide with two clinical finishes, reaching a personal milestone of 100 goals in an Inter jersey.
Fiorentina continued to press for an equalizer, with Luka Jovic coming close on two occasions. Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic made a fantastic save to deny Jovic, who later headed narrowly wide. In the dying moments, Gonzalez threatened to force extra time, but Inter defender Matteo Darmian’s decisive header ensured victory for Inter.
The thrilling Italian Cup final showcased the determination and skill of both teams, with Inter ultimately emerging as deserving champions.
