Advantage Inter as Lukaku resurgence continues

Romelu Lukaku boosted Inter Milan's chances of reaching the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in over a decade after scoring the only goal in Wednesday's 1-0 win over Porto.

Belgium forward Lukaku struck with four minutes remaining of the first leg on the rebound from his own header to decide an absorbing encounter at the San Siro.

Simone Inzaghi's side travels to Portugal for the return leg next month with a slight advantage thanks to Lukaku's second goal in as many games in all competitions.

The 29-year-old, who has struggled with injury all season, struck his first league goal since August at the weekend and came off the bench in the second half to ensure Inter will have a lead to protect in the second leg as the Nerazzurri seek a first Champions League quarterfinal tie since 2011.

"Winning is the most important thing... I'm focusing on trying to do what's best for Inter," Lukaku told Amazon Prime.

"I'm pleased for the win, let's hope we can keep it going."

Lukaku stuck as Sergio Conceicao's Porto was playing with 10 men after key midfielder Otavio, in his first appearance since the start of February, was sent off in the 78th minute for two bookings.

The Portuguese champion has been a bogey side to Italian teams in recent seasons but will have to turn the aggregate score around if it is to add to its series of Serie A scalps which include Juventus and Roma.

"It's a slight advantage that we'll try to make count against a good, physical team which is used to playing in the last 16 and quarterfinals...It's a great win," said Inzaghi, whose side is second in Serie A behind leader Napoli. "It was deserved for what we did on the pitch, but we know it's not finished here and the second leg will be difficult."

Inter should have been ahead in the 13th minute when Federico Dimarco found Lautaro Martinez with a deep cross, but the Argentina striker sent his header way over the bar.

Wasted chances

Five minutes later Hakan Calhanoglu forced a fantastic save from Diogo Costa, the Turkiye international playing a one-two from his own corner and whipping a beautifully struck shot which nearly went in at the near post.

However, it was Porto who wasted the best chance of a cagey half in the 37th minute after an intricately worked move.

From Otavio's pass Mehdi Taremi played the perfect layoff to Marko Grujic, who should have done better in front of Andre Onana before Wenderson Galeno headed wide with the goal gaping.

Costa then made sure that the teams went into the break level with another superb stop, this time reacting brilliantly to keep out Alessandro Bastoni's flicked header from Dimarco's inswinging freekick.

Nicolo Barella flicked just wide before Porto missed two more great chances to take the lead.

"We had plenty of opportunities to score. We created situations in the second half where we should have been more aggressive, because we were lacking in the finish," Conceicao told reporters.

"Inter played well, but if we look at the chances at the end of the match, I think we should have gotten a different result."

Lukaku almost immediately replaced the disappointing Edin Dzeko and in the 72nd minute the Belgium striker almost laid on the opener for Martinez, who just couldn't quite meet an inviting low cross from close range.

AFP