Romelu Lukaku’s late heroics were overshadowed by a dramatic turn of events as Inter Milan drew 1-1 against Juventus in the Coppa Italia semi-final first leg in Turin. Lukaku converted a 95th-minute penalty to salvage a draw for Inter, after Juan Cuadrado had put Juventus ahead in the 83rd minute. However, Lukaku’s joy was short-lived as he was shown a red card for his celebrations in front of the home fans, adding to the chaos that unfolded after the final whistle.
The match took a contentious turn when Gleison Bremer’s handball in added time gave Inter a lifeline with the late penalty. Lukaku calmly slotted it home, sparking wild celebrations among the Inter players and fans. However, his exuberance proved costly as he received a second yellow card for removing his shirt during the celebrations, leading to his sending off and leaving Inter with 10 men.
Tempers flared further after the match as scuffles broke out between players from both teams, with Inter captain Samir Handanovic and Juventus’ Cuadrado also receiving red cards. The tensions spilled over into the tunnel as the players made their way off the field.
The draw extends Inter’s winless run to five matches, adding to the pressure on manager Simone Inzaghi. As defending Coppa Italia champions, Inter will need to regroup quickly before the second leg, set to be played on the of 27 April.
