In an unexpected turn, Inter Milan faced a shocking defeat against Bologna, sealing their exit from the Italian Cup's last 16 with a heartbreaking 2-1 loss in extra time.
The San Siro witnessed an intense clash that saw Inter, Serie A leaders, stumble and fall against Bologna, who secured their spot in the quarter-finals with two critical goals in the added time.
The match started with Inter dominating the field, but Bologna, especially their keeper Federico Ravaglia, thwarted the hosts' attempts to score. Despite a plethora of chances, Inter couldn't convert their opportunities into goals. Even a penalty awarded to Inter went amiss as Bologna's goalkeeper denied Lautaro Martinez from the spot.
The deadlock was finally broken in extra time when Inter's Carlos Augusto netted a header, giving hope to the home crowd. However, Bologna retaliated fiercely with goals from Sam Beukema and Dan Ndoye in the second half of extra time, stunning Inter and sealing their fate in the competition.
The unexpected turn of events saw Bologna, under the guidance of ex-Inter midfielder Thiago Motta, claim a well-deserved victory and secure a spot in the quarter-finals alongside Fiorentina, Lazio, and Frosinone, who routed league champions Napoli earlier.
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi, in an attempt to balance his squad during a busy schedule, made several changes, sidelining key players like Hakan Calhanoglu and Marcus Thuram. Despite their first-half dominance and numerous attempts, Inter failed to break through Bologna's sturdy defense until the late stages of the game.
The defeat marks a surprising upset for Inter, who had previously won all eight of their Coppa Italia encounters against Bologna. As the tournament progresses, attention turns to the remaining last-16 ties, including Serie B side Cremonese's upcoming clash with Roma.
This defeat for Inter sets the stage for their upcoming challenge against Lecce, while Bologna gears up to host Atalanta in their next fixture.