FLORENCE, ITALY - OCTOBER 22: Players of FC Internazionale in action celebrate the win at the end of the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Internazionale at Stadio Artemio Franchi on October 22, 2022 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot - Inter/Inter via Getty Images)

Fiorentina 3 - 4 Inter: Mkhitaryan wins it at the death!

Team

— Oct 22nd 2022

6 MIN READING

The Armenian nets a 95th-minute winner following a thrilling encounter at the Franchi, with Barella and Lautaro (x2) also getting on the scoresheet

FIORENTINA 3-4 INTER

Goalscorers: 2' Barella (I), 15' Lautaro (I), 33' Cabral (F) su rig., 60' Ikoné (F), 73' Lautaro (I) (pen.), 95' Mkhitaryan (I)

FIORENTINA (4-3-3): 1 Terracciano; 2 Dodò (23 Venuti 83'), 4 Milenkovic, 28 Quarta, 3 Biraghi (15 Terzic 83'); 5 Bonaventura, 34 Amrabat (72 Barak 83'), 32 Duncan (; 22 Gonzalez (11 Ikoné 9'), 9 Cabral, 99 Kouame. Substitutes: 31 Cerofolini, 95 Gollini, 8 Saponara, 14 Maleh, 16 Ranieri, 27 Zurkowski, 38 Mandragora, 42 Bianco, 98 Igor. Coach: Vincenzo Italiano.

INTER (3-5-2): 24 Onana; 37 Skriniar, 6 De Vrij, 15 Acerbi; 36 Darmian (2 Dumfries 67'), 23 Barella, 20 Calhanoglu, 22 Mkhitaryan, 32 Dimarco ( 8 Gosens 67'); 10 Lautaro (12 Bellanova 85'), 11 Correa (9 Dzeko 61'). Substitutes: 1 Handanovic, 21 Cordaz, 14 Asllani, 33 D'Ambrosio, 45 Carboni, 46 Zanotti, 50 Stankovic, 95 Bastoni. Coach: Simone Inzaghi.

Booked: Acerbi (I), Bonaventura (F), Dodò (F), Barella (I), Milenkovic (F) Added time: 3' - 8'

Referee: Valeri. Assistants: Preti, Di Iorio. Fourth official: Serra. VAR: Mariani. VAR assistant: Costanzo.

After Barcelona 3-3 Inter, we were left with a strange feeling knowing that we could have won an absolute thriller. Tonight’s match against Fiorentina was another incredible showdown, with one twist after another. And it had striking similarities to that game at Camp Nou. Indeed, Fiorentina made it 3-3 in the 90th minute, and then there was the despair of seeing a chance for Mkhitaryan go begging with 92 minutes on the clock, as was the case with Asllani in the Champions League. But one thing that doesn’t change is this team’s heart, its selflessness, its desire to bring joy to all Interisti. And this is exactly what the Nerazzurri did this evening as Mkhitaryan had the final say with 95 minutes on the clock.

Three huge points that Inzaghi’s men had to dig ever so deep to collect. Barella once again made his mark, while Lautaro was simply unstoppable. Inter were aggressive in their play, sending the ball forward at the right moments to cause continuous problems. Dzeko came on and immediately got involved, laying the ball off to his teammates. And yet Fiorentina made it difficult, even after falling 2-0 behind after 15 minutes. Kouamé and Ikoné made a real nuisance of themselves, and there was also a loud home crowd to contend with. But Inter ultimately prevailed, picking up their seventh league win of the season. The Nerazzurri now sit on 21 points after eleven matches.

Inter made a start as bright as the yellow of the new Third Kit. Indeed, the Nerazzurri found themselves two up after 15 minutes thanks to two fantastic goals. Not even 90 seconds had passed before they took the lead, with Correa and Lautaro working to win the ball back high up the pitch and the latter prodding a pass through to Barella, who, despite being slightly off balance, was able to beat Terracciano to score his third goal in consecutive matches. In the 15th minute, meanwhile, it was El Toro’s turn. The Argentine drove towards goal and managed to leave Martínez Quarta for dust before firing home with a low left-footed strike. It was the perfect demonstration of how to approach a game.

However, Fiorentina weren’t about to give up and found energy through Ikoné, who had come on for the injured Gonzalez in the ninth minute. Meanwhile, Kouamé’s bursts down the left were also something Inter needed to be wary of. It was down this flank that the goal that got the hosts back into the match arrived: Biraghi played in a cross that was met by Bonaventura, who sent a volley wide of the post. However, soon after he’d connected with the ball, Dimarco made contact with him, resulting in a penalty after a VAR check. Up stepped Cabral, who made no mistake from twelve yards out. The match became heated as tempers flared, with more than one yellow card being handed out. The Nerazzurri needed to keep their cool in the second half.

However, they were met by a very attacking Viola side after the restart. Italiano decided to play four strikers, and it paid off in the 60th minute, with Ikoné’s left-footed curler hitting the underside of the bar and ending in the net. 2-2 and Inzaghi’s men had been pegged back.

The action wasn’t about to stop. In the 67th minute, Barella was denied by Terracciano following a fantastic pass from Dzeko, who constantly looked to pick out his teammates after coming on. It was one of these passes that led to Inter’s third goal: the Bosnian played in Lautaro, who was brought down by Terracciano. After another VAR check, the penalty was confirmed, and El Toro produced an emphatic finish to make it 3-2. Inter were ahead again. But back came Fiorentina, who threw everything at it and forced the Nerazzurri to defend. Just like they did in Barcelona, Inter switched to a 5-4-1 with Bellanova at right-back in an attempt to hold on. However, in the 90th minute, Jovic volleyed home on the turn to level matters following a Fiorentina corner.

Stoppage time began and Mkhitaryan popped up in the Viola box twice. On the first occasion, he was unable to connect with the ball from a very good position. Then, with 95 minutes on the clock, Venuti failed to clear and Mkhitaryan was there to force the ball into the net. His first Nerazzurri goal and unbridled joy. Quite simply, an incredible end to an incredible match.