A spectacular volley from Marko Arnautovic and a Hakan Calhanoglu penalty secured a 2-0 victory for Inter Milan over Lazio at the San Siro on Tuesday, setting up a mouthwatering Coppa Italia semi-final clash against city rivals AC Milan.
Arnautovic’s goal, a contender for goal of the season, came six minutes before halftime. A headed clearance from a corner fell to the Austrian outside the penalty area, and he unleashed an unstoppable volley that flew past Lazio goalkeeper Christos Mandas.
Inter, a regular presence in the latter stages of the Coppa Italia, have now reached the semi-finals for the fifth time in the last six seasons, and 30 times overall.
Lazio pressed for an equalizer in the second half, with Gustav Isaksen coming close just before the hour mark, but Inter goalkeeper Josep Martinez produced a crucial save with his foot.
Inter sealed the victory in the 77th minute when Hakan Calhanoglu converted a penalty. Samuel Gigot fouled Joaquin Correa in the box, and Calhanoglu sent Mandas the wrong way from the spot.
“What matters for Inter also matters for me. The most important thing is winning the match, and we are very happy,” Arnautovic told Mediaset after the game, downplaying his stunning goal.
The semi-final against AC Milan will be a two-legged affair in April. The two teams have already met three times this season, with Milan winning twice (including the Italian Super Cup final) and one match ending in a draw.
Inter midfielder Piotr Zielinski commented on the upcoming derby: “Last season we beat Milan many times, we will be ready and we will think about it when the match arrives.”
In the other semi-final, the winner of Wednesday’s match between Juventus and Empoli will face Bologna. The result ensures a high-stakes Milan derby in the penultimate stage of the cup competition.
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