Resilient Napoli denied by last gasp Inter strike

A dramatic injury-time winner from Lautaro Martinez clinched a 1-0 victory for Inter Milan over Napoli in the 2024 Italian Super Cup final held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Monday. The match was preceded by a poignant tribute to legendary Italian striker Gigi Riva, who passed away aged 79.

Both Inter, Coppa Italia holders and Serie A champions Napoli honoured Riva with a minute’s applause ahead of the second half. Riva notched 35 goals in 42 appearances for the Italian national team, helping them win Euro 1968 and finish runners-up at the 1970 World Cup. The prolific scorer also led Cagliari to their sole Serie A title in 1970.

In a tense match of few clear-cut chances and the absence of Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, the game appeared to be drifting towards penalties before Martinez pounced to break the deadlock in the 92nd minute. His dramatic late winner sealed Inter’s three-peat, their third consecutive Super Cup trophy.

Napoli’s quest for victory was hampered after Giovanni Simeone’s 60th-minute red card for two bookable offences left them with 10 men. Inter thereafter dominated but found scoring opportunities limited against resilient defending.

As the minutes ticked by it seemed extra-time could not be averted, only for Benjamin Pavard to deliver a cross for Martinez to sweep home and spark jubilant Inter celebrations.