Pre-match

With games looming against Napoli and Juventus respectively, Cesare Prandelli and Antonio Conte switched things up significantly. For the hosts (playing in front of just-arrived owner Rocco Commisso) Christian Kouamé and Valentin Eysseric started up top, while Borja Valero dinged himself during the warmup and was replaced by Giacomo Bonaventura. The visitors picked a host of bench options, including an experiment with Christian Eriksen as a regista; Stefano Sensi was replaced by Arturo Vidal after a pregame injury as well.

First half

Christian Eriksen got way too much time to carry the ball forward and shoot. ______ got a block in and the ball bounced loose in the area, where Alexis Sánchez and Pietro Terracciano both raced out to it. The forward’s shot cannoned off the upright, but referee Daniele Massa called it back and, after a VAR check, gave Inter Milan a penalty for Terracciano’s “foul” on the Chilean.

Arturo Vidal stepped up and put the spot kick away right down the middle as Terracciano dove right.

Massa initially pointed to the spot after Milan Škriniar and Christian Kouamé came together in the Nerazzurri box, but VAR correctly wiped it away. The Viola were pretty frustrated after the Downy soft spot kick the other way, but it was the right decision.

Second half

Christian Kouamé equalized in stunning fashion. After a corner bounced around the Inter box (credit to Lucas Martínez Quarta for an overhead kick that was well hit), it came out to the Ivorian on the edge of the box. He took a touch and roofed his half volley as perfectly as you could possibly ask for.

Extra time

For what seems like the dozenth time in the past couple of years, Romelu Lukaku scored in the last minute to seal the win for Inter. This time, the defense switched off and left him all alone to head home a Nicolò Barella cross from the right and undo so much hard work from Fiorentina.

Massa also ignored some uh rugged defending by Andrea Ranocchia on Dušan Vlahović late on.

Full time

Goals: Kouamé 57’; Vidal PK 40’

Cards: Eysseric 6’, Bonaventura 27’, Kouamé 58’, Igor 79’; Škriniar 45’, Eriksen 79’, Vidal 84’, Hakimi 112’, Ranocchia 117’, Sánchez 120’+1, Lukaku 120’+3

What’s next

Fiorentina’s Coppa Italia campaign is, for the second year running, snuffed out by Inter Milan. That means the Viola’s only hope to qualify for Europe next year is via their league finish, which means that it’s another year without continental competition. They’ll also have to cope with having gone to extra time when they travel south to take on the Partenopei on Sunday. Inter, meanwhile, will face city rivals AC Milan in the cup quarterfinals, although they’ll also have to cope with some tired legs after the grueling 2-hour affair.