Inter Milan produced a dramatic late comeback to defeat Fiorentina 2-1 at San Siro on Sunday, October 25, scoring twice in stoppage time to return to the top of the Serie A standings.
Marcus Thuram equalised in the 91st minute before Piotr Zielinski converted a penalty in the 98th minute to secure all three points for Cristian Chivu’s side. Fiorentina had looked set to claim a surprise victory after Alex Jimenez gave the visitors the lead in the second half, but Inter’s late pressure transformed the contest and kept their unbeaten league run intact. The result lifted Inter to 22 points, level with Lazio, who also won their weekend fixture.
Inter controlled much of the first half and created several opportunities, but Fiorentina goalkeeper David de Gea repeatedly denied the hosts. He produced a fingertip save to keep out a header from Pio Esposito before reacting quickly to parry a shot from Thuram. The French forward remained a constant threat as Inter attempted to find an opening, but the visitors defended resolutely and limited the home side’s ability to turn their possession into goals. Inter continued to push forward, yet their finishing and De Gea’s goalkeeping kept the score level at the interval. Fiorentina, meanwhile, looked for opportunities to exploit spaces left by the hosts as they committed more players to attack.
Despite Inter’s territorial advantage, Fiorentina struck first in the 65th minute. Jimenez, a former AC Milan player, surprised Inter goalkeeper Ivan Provedel with an ambitious angled effort from distance that flew into the top corner. Provedel was making his debut for Inter, and the goal gave the visitors a valuable lead against the run of play. The strike increased the pressure on the home side, who needed to find a response to avoid dropping points in the title race. Inter increased their attacking intensity after conceding, bringing forward players in search of an equaliser. Carlos Augusto came close with a glancing header that struck the top of the crossbar, while substitute Petar Sucic was denied by De Gea as Fiorentina attempted to protect their advantage.
Inter finally broke through in the first minute of stoppage time. Thuram found space inside the penalty area and guided a shot into the bottom corner to make it 1-1, giving the hosts renewed hope of completing the turnaround. The equaliser shifted the momentum firmly in Inter’s favour, and the team continued to attack rather than settle for a draw. Thuram then won a penalty after being brought down by Fiorentina defender Victor Valdepenas inside the box. Zielinski stepped up to take the spot-kick and converted in the 98th minute, completing a remarkable comeback and sending the home supporters into celebration. The two late goals turned a match that appeared to be slipping away from Inter into a crucial victory in the early-season standings.
The win marked Inter’s fifth comeback victory of the season, although their defensive record remained a concern after they conceded for the 10th time in the campaign. Head coach Chivu, however, said the team’s response mattered more than dwelling on the setback. He emphasised the importance of maintaining their mentality and continuing to compete until the final whistle. Inter’s ability to recover from difficult situations has helped them collect points, but the frequency with which they have conceded also leaves room for improvement as the season progresses. The victory nevertheless provided an important boost, particularly with the league table remaining tight near the top. Inter and Lazio both have 22 points, while AS Roma sit third with 18 points.
For Fiorentina, the defeat extended a difficult run of results. The club remained 18th in the standings with four points after suffering its third consecutive league defeat. Jimenez’s goal had offered the visitors a chance to secure a significant result away from home, but their inability to withstand Inter’s late attacking surge proved costly. The loss also prolonged Fiorentina’s winless run to four matches, increasing the pressure on the team to improve its results. Inter, meanwhile, will take confidence from the dramatic victory as they continue their pursuit of the Serie A title. With Lazio matching their points tally and Roma close behind, the race at the top remains competitive, making every result important as the league season develops.