Inter Milan cruised into the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday, defeating Feyenoord 2-1 to advance 4-1 on aggregate.
Marcus Thuram’s early thunderous strike and Hakan Calhanoglu’s composed penalty sealed a comfortable passage for Inter, who will now face Bayern Munich in a highly anticipated quarter-final clash.
Feyenoord’s dream run in Europe’s top competition ended quietly, though they briefly threatened to make a contest of it when Jakub Moder converted a penalty just before half-time. However, Inter remained in control throughout, and could have easily extended their lead after squandering several chances. Thuram, in particular, saw a powerful shot crash off the bar moments before his substitution to a raucous ovation with 19 minutes remaining.
Inter, who were already in a commanding position following their dominant 3-0 win in the first leg in Rotterdam, made sure of their progression in the eighth minute. Thuram latched onto a pass from Carlos Augusto on the left, cutting inside and firing a ferocious shot that left goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther with no chance.
With the early goal, Feyenoord, now under the guidance of former Netherlands striker Robin van Persie, faced an uphill battle, especially without several key players due to injuries and suspensions.
The match had begun quietly, with Inter fans protesting the rising cost of tickets by remaining silent for the first 20 minutes, while the 5,000 Feyenoord supporters sporadically voiced their support. The silence was broken by Thuram’s stunning strike.
Simone Inzaghi, celebrating his 200th match as Inter manager, was also missing some key players, including Italy wing-back Federico Dimarco, and had rested several other stars, including Lautaro Martinez, Nicolo Barella, Francesco Acerbi, and Alessandro Bastoni, with a crucial Serie A clash against Atalanta on the horizon.
Feyenoord had a brief lifeline in the 38th minute when Calhanoglu was penalized for fouling Moder in the box, allowing the Polish midfielder to convert from the spot. But Inter responded quickly after the break. Five minutes into the second half, Calhanoglu redeemed himself by confidently converting a penalty after what appeared to be a soft foul on Mehdi Taremi by Thomas Beelen.
Calhanoglu’s ninth goal of the season wrapped up a comprehensive win for Inter, setting the stage for a thrilling quarter-final showdown with Bayern Munich, evoking memories of their legendary 2010 treble-winning campaign, the last time an Italian team lifted the Champions League.
AFP
