AC Milan and Inter Play Out Thrilling 1-1 Draw in Coppa Italia Semi-Final

Hakan Calhanoglu's stunning 25-yard strike earned Inter a 1-1 draw against AC Milan in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final.

AC Milan has achieved a remarkable milestone, going four games unbeaten against Inter Milan for the first time in 20 years. This feat was sealed with a thrilling 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final, leaving the tie perfectly poised.

The match got off to an exciting start, with Inter Milan creating the first scoring opportunity in the ninth minute. Joaquin Correa's powerful drive from the edge of the box forced Mike Maignan to make a spectacular save. Moments later, Tammy Abraham made a crucial intervention, clearing the ball off the goal line to deny Stefan de Vrij a certain goal from Hakan Calhanoglu's pinpoint free-kick.

Until the 26th minute, Rafael Leao's impact on the game was limited, but he finally tested Inter's goalkeeper, Josep Martinez. Leao's close-range effort was denied by Martinez's quick reflexes, as he stuck out a boot to block the shot. Martinez continued to impress, racing off his line to thwart Tammy Abraham's attempt.

The match intensified as the first half progressed, with both teams creating scoring opportunities. Hakan Çalhanoğlu's swerving set-piece forced Mike Maignan to push the ball over the bar, while Davide Frattesi's bouncing header was repelled by Maignan. Despite the improved contest, coaches Sergio Conceição and Simone Inzaghi would have expected more attacking flair from their teams heading into the second half.

The stalemate was finally broken two minutes into the second half. Alex Jimenez's pass found its way through to Youssouf Fofana, who cleverly nudged the ball to Tammy Abraham. The English striker took a touch, composed himself, and fired an unerring shot into Josep Martinez's far corner, giving AC Milan the lead.

Simone Inzaghi was likely frustrated with Inter's defensive lapse that led to AC Milan's goal, but he would have been pleased with his team's swift response. Nicolo Barella's curling effort was parried away by Mike Maignan, and the Nerazzurri continued to push for an equalizer.

Their persistence paid off in the 67th minute, as Hakan Calhanoglu, a former AC Milan midfielder, hammered home a powerful shot from 25 yards out. Joaquin Correa provided the lay-off, and Calhanoglu made no mistake, scoring the equalizer and sending the match into a thrilling finale.

#DerbyMilano finishes all square ⏹️⚫🔵
All to play for in the second leg! 💪🔜 #ForzaInter #CoppaItaliaFrecciarossa #MilanInter pic.twitter.com/zAZMdzw54o

— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter_en) April 2, 2025

The game continued to ebb and flow, with both teams creating scoring opportunities. In the 79th minute, Marcus Thuram's cross flicked off Théo Hernandez's heel and found Nicola Zalewski at the back post, but Mike Maignan made an instinctive save to deny the Polish midfielder. Rafael Leao then came agonizingly close to scoring a spectacular curling winner, but ultimately, neither team could find a decisive goal.

The match ended 1-1, setting up a thrilling second leg. This result marked the sixth consecutive Derby della Madonnina in which both teams scored, highlighting the intense rivalry and competitive nature of these matches.