Inter Milan Stage Dramatic Comeback to Beat Como, Edge Closer to Scudetto
Inter Milan came from two goals down to secure a dramatic 4-3 victory over Como at the Stadio Sinigaglia, a result that moves the Nerazzurri nine points clear at the top of Serie A. The win, secured by a Marcus Thuram brace and a Denzel Dumfries double, moves Inter a significant step closer to the Scudetto while dealing a blow to Como's Champions League qualification hopes.
The match began in disastrous fashion for the league leaders, who found themselves two goals down before halftime. Como’s Alex Valle opened the scoring in the 36th minute, pouncing on a rebound, and Nico Paz doubled the lead just before the interval with a fine individual effort. However, Inter pulled a crucial goal back in first-half stoppage time, with Marcus Thuram pouncing to make it 2-1.
Buoyed by that late first-half strike, Inter emerged with renewed purpose after the break. Thuram completed his brace five minutes into the second half with a delicate chip to level the scores. The comeback was completed just before the hour mark, as Denzel Dumfries headed in a Hakan Calhanoglu free-kick to give Inter the lead. Dumfries then sealed the three points with a second goal in the 73rd minute, nodding in from another set-piece. A late penalty from Matheus Cunha for the hosts made for a nervy finish, but Inter held on for a vital 4-3 win.
According to Sky Sport Italia, the victory, coupled with AC Milan's draw, extends Inter's lead at the top of Serie A to 14 points. The result is a significant step towards a 20th league title for the Nerazzurri. For Como, the defeat is a major setback in their pursuit of a top-four finish, leaving them outside the Champions League places after Juventus secured a win earlier in the day.
Inter coach Cristian Chivu acknowledged the difficulty of the match, telling Sky Sport, "It wasn't simple. We faced a team fighting for an important objective and they showed that in the first half. We struggled and were flat, but we reacted and scored an important goal before the break." He praised his team's character, a sentiment echoed by match-winner Dumfries, who told reporters, "We showed today that this team is hungry. We had to dig deep, but we showed the mentality of champions."
For Como, managed by former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas, the defeat is a bitter pill to swallow after a promising first-half performance. Fabregas, however, remained defiant in his post-match press conference, stating he was "proud" of his team's performance and that the statistics, which showed Como had 24 shots on goal, proved their quality. The result leaves Como in a precarious position in the race for European football, while Inter can now realistically secure the title with a victory in the next Milan derby.
