Tammy Abraham’s Heroics Seal Super Cup Glory for Milan
AC Milan clinched the Italian Super Cup with a stunning 3-2 comeback victory over their city rivals, Inter Milan, at the King Saud University Stadium on Monday.
The match, which had the atmosphere of a high-stakes battle, saw Milan triumph thanks to a last-minute goal from Tammy Abraham, ensuring a fairy-tale start for new manager Serge Conceicao.
The match got underway with a dazzling light show that set the stage for an intense showdown. However, it was Inter who struck first, taking a commanding lead early in the contest.
Just before halftime, Mehdi Taremi showcased his playmaking skills by setting up Lautaro Martinez, who skillfully navigated past Milan’s Malick Thiaw and fired a low shot that slipped through the legs of Theo Hernandez, beating goalkeeper Mike Maignan at his near post.
The second half began with Inter doubling their lead just two minutes in. A pinpoint long ball from Stefan de Vrij found Taremi, who controlled it expertly before drilling a shot into the bottom corner, putting Milan in a precarious position at 2-0 down.
However, Milan was not to be outdone. The introduction of Rafael Leao proved pivotal as he won a free kick just outside the area. Hernandez stepped up and curled the ball low around the wall, finding the back of the net to breathe life back into Milan’s hopes.
With the momentum shifting, Milan pressed for an equalizer. Tijjani Reijnders had a shot blocked heroically by Alessandro Bastoni, while Inter’s Yann Sommer made a crucial save from an Alvaro Morata header. Inter seemed poised to extend their advantage again, but Carlos Augusto’s close-range header struck the upright, much to Milan’s relief.
With just ten minutes remaining, Milan found their equalizer. Christian Pulisic, surrounded by Inter defenders, expertly controlled a cross from Hernandez and directed his shot into the far corner, leveling the score at 2-2 and setting the stage for a nail-biting finish.
As the clock ticked down, it appeared the match would head to a penalty shootout. But Milan’s determination shone through. Leao once again created a moment of magic, pulling the ball back across the face of the goal, where Abraham was perfectly positioned to tap it in, sealing the victory in the dying seconds of the match.
In a jubilant celebration, Conceicao, who had only taken charge of the team a week prior after the sacking of Paulo Fonseca, embraced his players in a moment of pure elation. Meanwhile, the Inter squad was left in disbelief, their dreams of a historic fourth consecutive Super Cup title dashed.
With this victory, AC Milan not only claimed their eighth Super Cup title, matching Inter’s record, but also laid down a marker for the rest of the season.