MY ACCOUNT
Simone Inzaghi expressed his delight with Inter’s reaction as his side came from behind to beat Empoli in the Coppa Italia last 16.
Empoli stunned the Serie A leaders in the second half as substitute Nedim Bajrami cancelled out Alexis Sanchez’s opener before the visitors fortuitously took the lead at San Siro when Ionut Radu deflected into his own net.
Andrea Ranocchia levelled things up with a stunning, acrobatic stoppage-time equaliser to send Inter into extra-time in the last 16 of the competition for the fourth time in their last eight outings.
Substitute Stefano Sensi stepped up to deliver the decisive strike after 104 minutes, Inzaghi’s side now boasting 20 different scorers this season – more than any other team in Europe’s top-five leagues in all competitions.
Despite squandering an initial one-goal lead, Inzaghi was pleased with what he saw from his side as they made the quarter-finals for the 18th time in their last 19 seasons.
“I think we had an excellent first half, where we found the goalkeeper who should be congratulated for two, or three, difficult saves,” Inzaghi told Inter TV post-match.
“In my opinion, we deserved a few more goals, then in the second half we lost clarity, we stretched out. In the spaces, they showed the qualities they have.
“We went down, we changed players, we changed formation, but the boys gave everything on the pitch, they didn’t give up and we go to the quarters with a lot of confidence.
“We suffered, we went under, but I take the big reaction.”
Inter return to Serie A action on Saturday when they host Venezia.
