In a highly anticipated UEFA Champions League quarter-final second-leg match, Italy’s Inter Milan faced Portugal’s Benfica at San Siro Stadium on April 19, 2022. Despite a couple of late goals from the visitors, this match was never in doubt and a tantalizing all-Milan semi-final is lined up (AS USA). Benfica had a mountain to climb after losing 2-0 in the first leg of the quarterfinals, but they had high hopes of making an upset. Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan emerged as the ultimate victors with a 3-3 draw on the night, clear 5-3 aggregate winners of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals (VAVEL.com).
Inter Milan dominated possession, put up numerous shots and looked the most threatening. They started the game aggressively, in sharp contrast to Benfica’s cautious approach. Inter Milan took the lead just five minutes into the game when Romelu Lukaku headed home a cross from Achraf Hakimi (Sporting News).
Benfica looked demotivated, and Inter’s second goal followed shortly afterward. Ivan Perišić blasted the ball past the keeper from close range, doubling Inter Milan’s lead in under a quarter-hour of the first half (Evening Standard).
Benfica tried to make a comeback, with shows of grit and determination, but Inter Milan showed their own resolve. Benfica finally found the back of the net in the 50th minute when Adel Taarabt’s curling effort made it 2-1. Inter’s response was resounding, with a third goal in the 63rd minute thanks to Lautaro Martinez’s finish (AS USA).
Benfica’s Jorge Jesus made attempts to turn the game around by making three substitutions at once. These changes paid off, with Rafa Silva and a Darwin Nunez brace securing an encouraging 3-3 draw for Benfica on the night (CBS Sports).
The win sees Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan advance to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, while Benfica is now out of the competition. At the time of writing, the date for Inter’s UEFA Champions League semifinals against Real Madrid is yet to be confirmed. The match proved to be a rollercoaster ride for both sets of fans, and it looks like more of the same is in store as the competition gradually reaches its climax.
