Football: Lukaku strikes as Inter beat Porto in Champions League
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Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku (third from right) celebrates after opening the scoring.
PHOTO: AFP
MILAN – Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi believes his side could have scored more goals after beating Porto 1-0 in their Champions League last-16, first-leg tie at home on Wednesday.
Romelu Lukaku gave Inter a good chance of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time since 2011 after he struck on the rebound from his own header with four minutes remaining to decide an absorbing encounter at the San Siro.
“We played well against a very physical side. There are regrets that we failed to convert some of the first-half chances, while we ran some risks after the break on the counter-attack,” Inzaghi, whose side had 18 attempts on goal but only four on target, told Amazon Prime Italia.
“We wanted to do something more, but it was a great performance in the circumstances. We should’ve been quicker moving the ball around and building out from the back.
“It wasn’t easy with Porto pressing so aggressively, but we still deserved to take the lead in the first half.”
Inter travel to Portugal in March to decide who will go through to the last eight, on the back of Lukaku’s second goal in as many games in all competitions.
The 29-year-old, who has struggled with injury all season, struck his first Serie A goal since August at the weekend in a 3-1 home win over Udinese and came off the bench on Wednesday to net the winner.
“Winning is the most important thing... I’m focusing on trying to do what’s best for Inter,” said Lukaku.
“I’m pleased for the win, let’s hope we can keep it going.”
The Belgium striker scored as Sergio Conceicao’s Porto were playing the final portion of the match with 10 men after key midfielder Otavio was sent off in the 78th minute for two bookable offences.
Just as the game looked destined for a 0-0 draw, Lukaku headed Nicolo Barella’s cross against the post before slotting in the winner on the rebound.
Portuguese champions Porto have been a bogey side to Italian teams in recent seasons but will have to turn the aggregate score around if they are to add to the series of Serie A scalps, which include Juventus and AS Roma.
“It’s a slight advantage that we’ll try to make count against a good, physical team which is used to playing in the last 16 and quarter-finals,” added Inzaghi.
“But we know it’s not finished here and the second leg will be difficult.”
Romelu Lukaku scores for Inter Milan, past Porto’s Diogo Costa.
Conceicao blamed poor finishing for his side’s defeat.
“We had plenty of opportunities to score. We created situations in second half where we should have been more aggressive, because we were lacking in the finish,” he said.
“Inter played well, but if we look at the chances at the end of the match, we should have got a different result.”
The Porto coach also believed his side were let down by poor refereeing decisions.
“There are Inter players who deserved to be booked too,” he said, when asked about playing with 10 men.
“I believe Lautaro Martinez should’ve been booked for fouling Pepe and if that had happened, he would be suspended for the second leg. This is what the referee decided, I won’t say if it’s right or not, I will leave you to evaluate that.” AFP, REUTERS
