Inter Milan have clinched the Coppa Italia for the second straight season after defeating Fiorentina 2-1 in the final on Wednesday night.
Coppa Italia Final
Report: Fiorentina 1-2 Inter Milan
Date: 24 May 2023
Venue: Stadio Olimpico
Inter manager Simone Inzaghi recalled Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez in place of Joaquin Correa and Romelu Lukaki, while Mateo Darmian, Denzel Dumfires and Marcelo Brozovic were also back in the starting line-up.
Viola got off to the perfect start when they opened the scoring after just five minutes, with Nicolas Gonzalez firing past Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.
Fiorentina certainly looked to build on that good start and had a couple more sights at goal before the 20-minute mark, with Gonzalez and Bonaventura causing problems for the Inter defence.
However, Inter got themselves together and restored parity in the 29th minute as Brozovic threaded a fine pass to Martinez, who raced clear and drilled the ball into the far corner.
The Nerazzurri completed the turnaround in the 37th minute when Martinez completed his brace after pouncing on a loose ball in the box before volleying into the back of the net.
Fiorentina came out firing in the second half and went close to pulling themselves level, with Cristiano Biraghi unleashing a powerful free-kick from 30 yards that sailed inches wide of the upright.
Inter introduced Lukaku and Stefan de Vrij for Dzeko and Alessandro Bastoni for the final 30 minutes of the stanza as they looked to solidify the lead with Viola aiming to get back on level terms.
Lukaku's presence was proving to be a problem for the Fiorentina defence as he carved out a chance on 67 minutes after holding off two defenders before drilling a strike at goal, but goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano pulled off the save.
Fiorentina should have been back on level terms after 82 minutes when Dodo did well to pick out Luka Jovic in the box, but the Serbian striker sent his header wide of Handanovic's goal.
However, Inzaghi's charges were able to fend off the late push from Fiorentina to see out the victory and claim the Coppa Italia for the second successive season.
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