Acerbi goal epitomised ‘crazy’ Inter’s last-chance warriors

The oldest man in the oldest Champions League team delivered when it mattered most to show they have the bravery and desire to climb the final mountain this time

- Nicky Bandini

What was he even doing there, in the 183rd minute of a two-legged tie, a 37-year-old centre-back attacking the opposition's six-yard box, the furthest man forward on his team? Francesco Acerbi had not scored a goal in more than a year. Heck, he had not scored one in 65 appearances across UEFA club competitions. This is not his job, not the thing he trains for, not a defining moment anyone had predicted for the most entertaining Champions League semi-final ever to unfold.

Or maybe this is the only way it could be. "Pazza Inter Amala" runs the line from Inter's club anthem. "Crazy Inter, Love Her." This is not Real Madrid, where "being successful is part of our DNA", nor Juventus lecturing you that "winning is the only thing that counts". Inter make sense when they stop making sense. Acerbi - yes, that Acerbi, who overcame cancer twice and who has won all seven major trophies of his career since turning 30, smashing a striker's finish into the top corner to make it 6-6 on aggregate and force extra time? Of course. How else did you imagine this could go?

To be clear, we are not talking about luck or random chance. Inter are heading to their second Champions League final in three years because they are one of the very best football teams on the planet. They have players like Lautaro Martínez, who has scored every 85 minutes in this season's competition, and bagged another, as well as winning a penalty, on Tuesday, just six days after he limped out of the first leg with a hamstring strain. Their manager, Simone Inzaghi, has proven himself to be one of the most tactically sophisticated coaches going, with flexible and ambitious systems that allow players freedom built on trust and communication.