Zlatan-Lukaku spat overshadows Copa Italia semifinal

 

Ex teammates, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku went hard on each other in the Copa Italia semifinal on Tuesday. Inter won 2-1. (Photo credit: Getty images)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic earned himself an inglorious red card in the second half of the Copa Italia on Tuesday before want away Dane, Cristian Eriksen fired in a sensational winner to dump AC Milan out of the cup.

Ibrahimovic's match started in typically clinical fashion in front of goal after the evergreen Swede superbly fired home in the 31st minute to give Milan the lead -- his eighth goal in seven appearances for Milan against Inter in all competitions.

As the first half drew to a close, Ibrahimovic was booked for his part in a heated clash with Inter's Romelu Lukaku with the pair, former teammates at Old Trafford in England, continuing their argument down the tunnel at halftime.

 

Both seemed to have calmed down after the break, but Ibrahimovic picked up his second yellow for a trip on Aleksandar Kolarov and was sent off in the 58th minute.

 

Inter took advantage of the extra man, with their top goal scorer Lukaku firing a 71st-minute penalty into the net off the underside of the crossbar to equalize.

Inter bombarded the Milan goal but could not find a winner until substitute Eriksen stepped up with a stoppage-time free kick to book his side a semi-final clash with either Andre Pirlo’s Juventus or SPAL who play on Wednesday.

 

Milan are top of the Serie A standings on 43 points, two clear of rivals Inter, with both looking to end Juventus' nine-year title-winning run.

Even though both coaches made changes to their starting sides, it took nothing away from the spectacle as both teams went at it from the off.

After Ibrahimovic's 13th goal of the season, the Swede was involved in a shameful exchange with Lukaku. Both players were cautioned, with Lukaku so incensed he had to be restrained as the teams went off at halftime and clear foul languages could be heard without having to strain ear drums.

Ibrahimovic, however, did not last much longer, and was sent off for the first time in Europe since March 2015. Lukaku then stepped up after Nicolo Barella had been fouled to score his 18th of the season in all competitions.

 

The game that had everything, from exchange of goals, heated spat, flowing bookings didn’t end without having a referee change, it had everything.

 

Things have not gone to plan for Eriksen since he left Spurs in the premier league for Milan almost a year ago to the day, with the Dane having started just four league games this season, leading to speculation he could return to England this January.

The 28-year-old came off the bench late on and proved he still has something to offer, curling a sublime free kick into the net in 97th minute, for his first goal of the season.

But Conte said after the match that he expects Eriksen to remain "because we're not signing any player, so we won't let him leave the club. I'm so happy for his goal."