In a thrilling Champions League encounter Atletico Madrid overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit to knock out Inter Milan and progress to the next round.
A Tense First Half:
Atletico started strong, applying pressure and creating early opportunities. Inter looked to maintain their aggregate lead but soon found themselves drawn into an end-to-end battle. The deadlock was broken in the 32nd minute when Federico Di Marco fired Inter ahead with a weak-footed shot past Jan Oblak. However, Atletico responded swiftly, restoring parity just two minutes later through Antoine Griezmann.
Second Half Frustrations:
The second half mirrored the first, with both teams exchanging attacks but failing to convert chances. Alvaro Morata and Marcus Thuram were the biggest culprits, squandering clear opportunities for their respective sides. Lautaro Martinez came close to extending Inter’s lead in the 80th minute, but his attempt was parried away by Oblak. The momentum swung back to Atletico moments later when Memphis Depay rattled the bar before finally finding the net two minutes later, putting Atletico ahead on aggregate.
Dramatic Finish and Penalty Shootout:
Rodrigo Riquelme had a golden opportunity to win it for Atletico in the dying moments, but his shot sailed over the bar. The tie remained deadlocked after extra time, forcing a penalty shootout.
Oblak the Hero:
Depay and Hakan Calhanoglu converted the first penalties for each side. The tension escalated as both teams missed three consecutive penalties, with Oblak saving attempts from Alexis Sanchez and Davy Klaassen. Acerbi and Angel Correa successfully converted their fourth penalty for each side, leaving Lautaro Martinez needing to score to keep Inter alive. However, his effort flew over the bar, handing Atletico a dramatic 3-2 victory in the shootout.
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