The China Mail - Inter roar back to beat Como and reach Italian Cup final

Trailing early in the second half at the San Siro to brilliant goals from Martin Baturina and Lucas Da Cunha, Inter looked as good as out, but Hakan Calhanoglu dragged the hosts level with a brace and then set up Petar Sucic for a last-gasp winner.

Cristian Chivu's team will face one of Atalanta or Lazio in next month's showpiece in Rome, with the other semi-final delicately poised at 2-2 ahead of Wednesday's second leg.

Sucic's calm finish denied Como, who were in Italy's third tier as recently as 2019 when they were acquired by tobacco giant Djarum, a first appearance in the cup final.

But Inter can still claim a league and cup double as they are almost certain to win Serie A due to a 12-point lead over AC Milan and Napoli with five matches remaining in the league season.

"I had a bit of luck but I'm pleased we managed to turn it around. Como make it difficult because they know how to play," Calhanoglu told Mediaset, in an interview which was interrupted several times by a jubilant Marcus Thuram dancing along to fans chanting his name.

"The league and cup are our two goals, we need to make sure we close out the Scudetto as soon as possible."

Roared on by over 4,000 fans who made the short trip to Milan from their lakeside homes, Como were well on top by the time Baturina perfectly slid home Ignace Van Der Brempt's cutback in the 32nd minute.

And once captain Da Cunha, who played for Como in Serie B, collected Nico Paz's perfect through ball and slotted past Josep Martinez two minutes after half-time, Inter looked dead on their feet.

But Calhanoglu halved the deficit in the 69th minute with a deflected finish, sparking the crowd back into life and beginning a late siege which eventually broke Como.

Turkey captain Calhanoglu guided home a rare header from Sucic's inswinging cross in the 86th minute and moments later the roles were reversed for the goal which kept Inter's double hopes alive.

Q.Yam--ThChM