DBasia.news – Inter Milan ended a 10-year wait in the Champions League. Il Nerazzurri confirmed their ticket to the last 16 of the Champions League after a 2-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the fifth match of Group D of the Champions League, Thursday (25/11).
Inter played with great intensity in front of their fans, despite losing possession by 42 to 58 percent to Roberto De Zerbi’s Shakhtar. Inter tried to be efficient with 21 attempted kicks (nine on target).
Of the nine shots on target, two were scored by 35-year-old striker Edin Dzeko in the 61st and 67th minutes. Those three points were enough to ensure Inter’s ticket to the knockout stages, ending the 10-year wait since last qualifying for the knockout phase in the 2011-2012 season.
Inter are now in second place in Group D standings with 10 points and Sheriff Tiraspol can no longer catch those points.
“Dzeko’s opener was like a burden on our shoulders after we created so many chances,” Simone Inzaghi, Inter coach told Sky Sports Italia.
“Reaching the last 16 would be a great achievement, I say that that day I was introduced as Inter coach. The day I signed the contract I said this was the goal, something Inter haven’t done for more than 10 years.”
“Now we’ve got 10 points and have won three in a row, getting this win just three days after beating Napoli in Serie A.”
50 goals by Edin Dzeko
Dzeko’s two goals ended Inter’s decade of waiting in the Champions League. Even more special because it became Dzeko’s 50 goals in Europe from 112 appearances. Dzeko only joined Inter in the summer of 2021 from AS Roma and previously played for Manchester City.
Thanks to his great performance, Dzeko was selected as UEFA’s Player of the Match. Dzeko not only has a great finishing touch, but is also an ideal target man for Inter.
“Perisic had the perfect game, crossed for both goals and defended responsibly, neutralizing Shakhtar’s biggest attacking threat, but the Player of the Match was Džeko,” said UEFA Technical Observer Roberto Martinez.
“He provided a lethal touch and was a strong focal point when Inter had the ball. Shakhtar couldn’t handle it in their box.”
Dzeko was also pleased with his two goals which resulted in his team’s patience creating chances, especially because of Shakhtar’s tenacious defense and good goalkeeper.
“Inter signed me to score goals and I tried to give my contribution. In the first half we made a lot of mistakes, but their goalkeeper is also good. You have to be patient, without conceding a goal, and then in the second half we ended up scoring two goals.” Dzeko.
“We got three crucial points. The ball did not want to enter in the first half but also in the second half as if it was cursed with the goal being disallowed. Finally we made it. At half-time Inzaghi told us to continue like in the first half because the team was very good,” he explained.