Inter beat Juventus 4-2 in Cup to stay on course for double
For Inter it was the first of what could be an impressive double as it is also tussling with AC Milan at top of Serie A standings
ROME: Inter Milan remained on course for a league and cup double by beating Juventus 4-2 after extra time in the Italian Cup final on Wednesday.
Ivan Perišić scored twice in extra time after Hakan Çalhanoğlu had converted a controversial late penalty.
Juventus had turned the match around early in the second half with two goals in as many minutes from Alex Sandro and Dušan Vlahović after going behind on an early Nicolò Barella strike.
There was a sour note to Perišić's post-match interview, when the Inter winger was asked about his contract which expires at the end of the season.
“I don't know anything yet. You don't wait until the last minute with important players, you just don't do it,” he said.
For Inter it was the first of what could be an impressive double as it is also tussling with city rival AC Milan at the top of the Serie A standings, although the defending champion is two points behind the Rossoneri with two matches remaining.
“I always feel like a leader and when the team is so strong it's even easier to be a leader,” Perišić said. “We still have two matches, we need to win them and see. Do we believe we can do it? Always.”
Juventus also lost to Inter in the Italian Super Cup in January and it is the first year since 2011 it has finished the season without a trophy.
“I think Inter showed during the season they are stronger in all the matches we played against them. And we were lacking something. And I hope the anger of losing three out of four games against Inter will fire us up for next season,” said Juventus captain Giorgio Chiellini, who confirmed he is leaving at the end of the season.
“I'm sad to be going after a year without a trophy, but after 10 years I think it can be accepted. But that should stay with us for the next few years.
It was looking for a recordextending 15th Italian Cup and had won five of the past seven editions, including last year's.
But it was Inter that got off to the perfect start at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome as it took the lead with less than seven minutes on the clock.