MILAN — In a recently contested Italian Cup match, Inter Milan showcased a significantly altered lineup, securing a comfortable 2-0 win against Udinese.
The goals came from Marko Arnautovi? and Kristjan Asllani during the first half, allowing Inter to advance to the quarterfinals where they will face Lazio—a team they had convincingly defeated 6-0 just a few days prior. Coach Simone Inzaghi opted to make eight changes from the squad that played in the previous league match.
The game experienced a brief suspension just before halftime after a spectator collapsed in the stands. The incident prompted immediate medical attention, bringing about a moment of silence in the stadium as players and fans alike looked on with concern.
A defibrillator was utilized on the fan before he was transported out on a stretcher, receiving applause from the San Siro crowd. Fortunately, reports indicated that the fan was in a stable condition after being taken to the hospital.
Following the interruption lasting over five minutes, the Udinese team appeared shaken as Asllani’s corner kick cleverly evaded all players and nestled into the net off the far post, giving Inter a 2-0 advantage. The first goal came in the 30th minute when an ill-conceived pass from Udinese’s Jurgen Ekkelenkamp allowed Mehdi Taremi to intercept, setting up Arnautovi? for a well-placed shot into the bottom right corner.
In the second half, Taremi nearly added to the scoreline but struck the post, and Inter also had an early penalty decision overturned after a video review.
In a noteworthy moment, young defender Mike Aidoo made his professional debut for Inter, stepping onto the pitch just two minutes before the final whistle.