Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo decided with a double the 2-1 victory of Juventus Turin at the Inter Milan field in the first leg of the Italian Cup semifinals and brought Pirlo’s team closer to a new final, in a night in the that CR7 became the best scorer in football history with 763 goals.
A goal from Argentina’s Lautaro Martínez put Inter ahead in the 9th minute, but Cristiano, with a penalty on 26th and an intelligence goal after taking advantage of a distraction from the rival defense in 35th, turned the score around and added to his legend.
The two goals of CR7, according to some statistics, make him the top scorer in the history of professional football in an official match, ahead of Pelé (762) and the Czechoslovakian Josef Bica (762). Others, on the other hand, put him in fourth position, conceding 805 to Josef Bica, 772 to Romario, and 767 to Pelé.
Cristiano celebrated against Inter Milan Getty Images
And that Inter, without the Belgian Romelu Lukaku or the Moroccan Achraf Hakimi, sanctioned, went ahead first, thanks to a goal from “Toro” Lautaro, who struck down the goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon by finishing off with power a low center by Matteo Darmian from the right wing.
Lautaro, who celebrated his fatherhood on Monday, chained his second consecutive game scoring after breaking a six-game drought last weekend with his signed target against Benevento in Serie A.
Until that moment, Juventus had struggled to create game and opportunities, but a defensive naivety of Englishman Ashley Young, who knocked down Colombian Juan Cuadrado in the area, caused the penalty that opened Cristiano’s great night.
The Portuguese striker edged out Slovenian goalkeeper Samir Handanovic with a powerful central shot and restored equality at San Siro. Shortly after, he took advantage of an unforgivable distraction from Inter’s goal and defender Alessandro Bastoni to turn the score around.
He anticipated the two rivals and scored with a left-footed shot, the ball hitting the post before ending up at the bottom of the net.
If Cristiano was the offensive leader with his double, Juventus could also count on a great Buffon, decisive at 43 with an excellent save twenty minutes from the end with a shot from Matteo Darmian.
Lautaro festaja with Barella Getty Images
Andrea Pirlo’s team left San Siro with a valuable 2-1 that brings them closer to the Italian Cup final, awaiting the return match, scheduled for next week.
In the other semifinal they will face Naples, Granada’s rival in the round of 32 of the Europa League, and Atalanta.