​Milan Derby Ends in Stalemate: Calhanoglu Rescues Inter in Coppa Italia Semi-Final

Inter Milan and AC Milan battled to a 1-1 draw in a tense Coppa Italia semi-final first leg, leaving the tie finely poised. Tammy Abraham's early second-half strike gave Milan the lead, but Hakan Calhanoglu's powerful equalizer ensured Inter left with a crucial away goal.

Abraham's angled finish shortly after the break ignited the San Siro, but Calhanoglu responded in the 67th minute with a thunderous long-range effort, leveling the score. Inter, chasing a treble, demonstrated their resilience against a Milan side desperate for European qualification through the cup.

Inter, playing without the injured Lautaro Martinez, dominated possession, but Milan's Rafael Leao posed a constant threat. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan made crucial saves, denying Davide Frattesi and Calhanoglu, before Abraham broke the deadlock.

Calhanoglu's equalizer injected new energy into Inter, who pushed for a late winner. Henrikh Mkhitaryan came close, and Leao nearly snatched victory for Milan in the dying minutes.

The draw sets up a captivating second leg, with both Milan giants vying for a place in the final. Inter, seeking their tenth Coppa Italia title, last won the competition in 2023, while Milan, with five titles, last triumphed in 2003. Bologna holds a commanding 3-0 lead over Empoli in the other semi-final.