Lautaro Martinez secured Inter Milan’s third successive Italian Super Cup by scoring the match-winning goal in a thrilling 1-0 victory over Napoli in Riyadh.
The Argentinean striker delivered the decisive strike in the dying seconds of added time, making full use of defender Benjamin Pavard’s well-placed low cross.
The 26-year-old’s winning strike, his 21st goal this season in all fixtures, saw off Napoli, who were down to 10-men after the dismissal of striker Giovanni Simeone due to two yellow card offenses.
Martinez equalled former striker Christian Vieri’s record to becoming the ninth all-time top-scorer in the history of Inter Milan. Since his transfer in 2018, Martinex has netted 123 goals for ther Nerazzurri.
Speaking after the match, Martinez said he was proud and happy to have won the Super Cup after being eliminated from the Italian Cup. Bologna beat Inter Milan 2-1 to knock them out of the Italian Cup in December.
“I am very proud and happy. We were eliminated from the Italian Cup, so we wanted to win the Super Cup. It was tough, we had a day’s less rest, we were not sharp, but I am proud of this team. The goal was a great emotion, a unique moment,” said Martinez.
His goal provided Inter Milan’s head coach, Simone Inzaghi, with his fifth Super Cup title, a new record in his managerial career. Inzaghi’s triumph this year marks the third consecutive Super Cup win, eclipsing the achievements of Italian managerial greats, Fabio Capello and Marcello Lippi.
The 47-year-old tactician had previously guided Lazio to Super Cup glory in 2017 and 2019. With this latest victory, he has led Inter to become only the second team to manage a Super Cup hat-trick. AC Milan, Inter’s city rivals, previously accomplished the same feat with three consecutive wins between 1992 and 1994.
