Inter continue their Coppa Italia journey in style, overcoming Lazio 2-0 in the quarter-finals. A solid performance saw Marko Arnautovic open the scoring with a stunning first-half volley before Hakan Calhanoglu sealed the win from the penalty spot in the second half. With this victory, Simone Inzaghi’s men book their place in the semi-finals, where they will face city rivals AC Milan in a much-anticipated two-legged tie on April 2 and 23.
At a rain-soaked San Siro, with over 50,000 fans in attendance, Inter controlled the match with composure, making the most of their chances while keeping Lazio at bay. Inzaghi rotated his squad ahead of their crucial league clash against Napoli, resting key players like Acerbi, Mkhitaryan, and Lautaro Martinez. Lazio, meanwhile, put up a spirited fight, with Isaksen posing the biggest threat in attack.
The match started evenly, with Lazio creating the first real chance as Isaksen tested Sommer with a sharp low drive, but the Inter goalkeeper reacted well to push it wide. The breakthrough came in the 39th minute when a poor Lazio clearance from a corner fell to Arnautovic, who struck a magnificent left-footed volley past Mandas, giving Inter the lead.
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Lazio pushed forward after the break, determined to find an equalizer. Isaksen once again came close, attempting a clever toe-poke past Sommer, but the Swiss goalkeeper was quick to react. Inter nearly doubled their lead on a fast counterattack involving Bisseck and Taremi, but Gila produced a last-ditch tackle to deny the Iranian forward.
The decisive moment arrived in the 75th minute when Correa, introduced as a second-half substitute, dribbled past Guendouzi inside the box before being brought down by Gigot. Calhanoglu stepped up to take the penalty and coolly slotted it past Mandas, securing Inter’s victory.
Lazio refused to give up and came agonizingly close to pulling one back when Pedro’s strike was deflected onto the crossbar by Bisseck. They also appealed for a penalty after a challenge between Dumfries and Nuno Tavares, but the VAR review confirmed the foul had occurred outside the area.
With a well-earned win, Inter now look ahead to a thrilling semi-final derby against AC Milan, with their eyes firmly set on reaching the final. Lazio, despite their efforts, exit the competition with regrets over missed opportunities in front of goal.
