(MENAFN- AsiaNet News) Inter Milan clinched their 20th Serie A title in a heated showdown against city rivals AC Milan, triumphing 2-1 at the San Siro on Monday night. Simone Inzaghi's squad, requiring a victory to secure the championship, initially appeared poised for an easy win with goals from Francesco Acerbi and Marcus Thuram.
However, AC Milan intensified the pressure as Fikayo Tomori found the net with ten minutes plus stoppage time left. The match concluded amidst chaos, witnessing three players sent off in just four stoppage-time minutes.
Despite the late surge from AC Milan, Inter held their ground, establishing a commanding 17-point lead over their city rivals with five games remaining.
As the final whistle blew, Inzaghi dashed onto the field to celebrate with his coaching team and players. Lautaro Martinez's emotions overflowed as he dropped to the ground in tears, while his teammates embraced and rejoiced in front of the jubilant fans.
Following their triumph, the players proudly displayed signs bearing the number '20', marking their historic title win. While the victory narrows the gap with AC Milan to just one point, they still trail Juventus by 16 points.
Nevertheless, Inter will soon adorn their kits with a second star, symbolizing their attainment of twenty league titles, as per Italian tradition where clubs earn a star for every ten titles won.
For coach Simone Inzaghi, this marks his inaugural Scudetto, a monumental achievement in his coaching career. Throughout the season, his side dominated the league table, maintaining their position at the top for the majority of the campaign.
The opener came in the 18th minute as Benjamin Pavard redirected Federico Dimarco's corner, allowing Acerbi to head home from close quarters. Thuram then extended Inter's advantage, rifling a shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner, further solidifying their lead.
AC Milan, determined to avoid witnessing their rivals' title clinch, heightened their efforts in the closing stages, particularly after Tomori's rebound header injected hope into their campaign.
As tensions escalated, tempers flared on the pitch, resulting in Theo Hernandez of AC Milan and Inter's Denzel Dumfries both receiving red cards after a skirmish.
Adding to AC Milan's woes, Davide Calabria was also sent off for violent conduct, as he caught an opponent with an elbow while anticipating a corner.
The week proved disappointing for AC Milan, compounded by their Europa League elimination at the hands of Italian rivals Roma, which led to a confrontation with the club's ultras.
Amidst rumors of managerial change, Stefano Pioli addressed the speculation following the loss to Inter, stating, "I
don't know. Inzaghi seemed to be struggling 14 months ago according to the media and look what he achieved after that. I am happy here, I work well and I think the team has margin for improvement. We'll see where we all are at the end of the season and discuss it."
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