In a match of the 3rd matchday of the Italian Serie A, one of the most dramatic games of the season took place at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium (San Siro): Inter hosted Napoli and ultimately won 3-2. A match that offered the spectators not a single goal in the first half turned into a real thriller in the second half. The visitors went two goals up at the start of the second half, but the hosts managed not just to equalize but to turn the game around, scoring the winning goal in stoppage time.
Match flow: from shock to triumph
The first half went goalless, but the start of the second half was a real blow for the San Siro stands. In the 50th minute, Matteo Politano opened the scoring, and just three minutes later, in the 53rd, Rasmus Højlund doubled Napoli's lead — 2-0. It seemed the outcome was already decided, but Inter reacted instantly: in the 56th minute, Lautaro Martinez narrowed the gap. The decisive turning point came closer to the end of regular time — in the 82nd minute, Marcus Thuram equalized, giving the Nerazzurri fans hope, and in the first minute of stoppage time (90+1), Martinez scored the winning goal again, completing his brace.
A historic comeback
Beyond the fact of the win itself, this match went down in the history of the two clubs' head-to-head encounters. For the first time in their clashes with Napoli, Inter's players managed to come from two goals down. Such a comeback in the Inter–Napoli matchup had never been recorded before, which makes the final 3-2 scoreline especially significant for the club and its fans.
Man of the match — Lautaro Martinez
The undisputed man of the match was Lautaro Martinez, the current Inter captain. The Argentine not only pulled one goal back in the 56th minute but also scored the winner in the 90+1st, effectively dragging three points for his team. His brace (56, 90+1), combined with Marcus Thuram's precise strike (82), proved stronger than the goals of Matteo Politano (50) and Rasmus Højlund (53) for the visitors.
What's next for both teams
As early as next week, Inter under Cristian Chivu will make their Champions League debut, where they will face Real Madrid. On September 14, the team will play their Serie A matchday 4 game against Udinese. Massimiliano Allegri's Napoli will play their first Champions League match on September 9 against Arsenal, and on September 13 they will face Bologna in the Italian championship.
