By Our Man in Milan
MILAN – LIVERPOOL cemented their status as European dark horses last night, grinding out a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in a tense Champions League League Phase clash at the legendary Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, better known to the world as the San Siro.
In a match lacking clear-cut chances, the atmosphere in the famous two-tiered stadium was anything but tame.
The colossal arena, home to both Inter and their city rivals AC Milan, was a vibrant, roaring spectacle from the first whistle, with the Nerazzurri faithful creating the kind of cauldron-like din that only a venue of this historic magnitude can generate.
A Cathedral of Noise
The air was thick with the scent of flares and the clamour of tens of thousands of passionate fans, whose collective roar made the historic concrete stands vibrate with intensity. It truly was one of those classic Champions League nights where the venue itself felt like Inter’s twelfth man.
The Reds, however, showed the kind of steel and discipline that has been a hallmark of their best European campaigns, refusing to buckle under the immense pressure.
Manager Arne Slot’s men, playing in the shadow of the imposing spiral ramps and under a sky lit by Italian passion, kept a resolute defensive shape throughout the 90 minutes. Inter pressed, with Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram looking lively, but Virgil van Dijk marshalled the back line with customary authority.
As the clock ticked down and it looked like the match was heading for a gritty 0-0 draw, the drama exploded in the 88th minute.
The electric atmosphere was instantly punctured when referee Felix Zwayer pointed to the spot for a contentious foul in the box.
Stepping up to take the penalty was Hungarian ace Dominik Szoboszlai. With the full weight of the massive, echoing stadium against him, Szoboszlai showed ice in his veins, smashing the ball home to silence the vast majority of the 70,000-plus crowd.
The goal was Liverpool’s first shot on target in a second half dominated by Inter, and it secured a colossal three points, continuing the Reds’ incredible run of never losing a Champions League match away at this Italian fortress.
The dramatic late winner leaves the San Siro shell-shocked and sends a clear message across the continent: on a night when the iconic stadium tried to intimidate them into submission, Liverpool had the last word.
