Hakan steals the spotlight as Inter stage stunning comeback to reach Italian Cup final
Inter booked their place in the Italian Cup final with a dramatic turnaround in Milan, overturning a two-goal deficit to defeat Como 3-2 in the second leg of the semi-final. Turkish international Hakan Çalhanoğlu was the undisputed star of the night, delivering a masterclass performance with two goals and an assist that completely transformed the match.
The tie had been finely poised after a goalless first leg, leaving everything to be decided at San Siro. Inter were widely seen as favourites, but Como arrived with a clear game plan and the belief that they could shock the giants on their own pitch. For more than an hour, it looked as though that upset was about to become reality.
Como silences San Siro
The visitors struck the first blow in the 32nd minute. After a well-worked move built on sharp, quick passing, Martin Baturina found space on the edge of the box. The midfielder timed his run perfectly, took the ball in his stride and finished clinically, sliding his shot beyond the goalkeeper to give Como a 1-0 lead.
Inter tried to respond before the break, pushing numbers forward and attempting to increase the tempo, but Como stayed compact and disciplined. Every time the hosts tried to combine through the middle, the blue-and-white back line closed the space, forcing Inter into crosses and hopeful long shots. The first half ended with the underdogs deservedly ahead.
Shock grows as Como double their advantage
If Inter supporters expected their team to come out flying after the interval, they were stunned by what unfolded. Barely three minutes into the second half, Como struck again.
Nico Paz unlocked the defence with a superb through ball that split Inter’s back line. Lucas Da Cunha raced onto the pass, held his nerve in front of goal and finished with precision to make it 2-0 to the visitors in the 48th minute. The stadium fell into disbelief as Inter’s situation suddenly became desperate: they now needed three goals to turn the tie around.
At that stage, Como looked in total control. They continued to break dangerously on the counter, while Inter grew increasingly impatient. Passes were overhit, crosses were easily cleared and the home side was struggling to find any rhythm. Inter’s coach Cristian Chivu reacted with attacking substitutions, bringing extra energy and creativity into midfield and the final third.
Hakan ignites the comeback
The turning point finally arrived in the 69th minute, and it came from the player who had been trying to drag Inter forward all evening. Positioned outside the penalty area, Hakan Çalhanoğlu received the ball in space. Without hesitation, he struck a powerful shot from long range, catching the ball perfectly. The ball flew towards the corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance and cutting Como’s lead to 2-1.
That goal instantly changed the mood in the stadium. Inter players, who had looked deflated minutes earlier, suddenly found renewed belief. The stands roared with every challenge and attack, and Como, who had seemed so comfortable, began to retreat deeper, struggling to hold onto their advantage.
Equaliser from the same hero
Inter piled on the pressure in the closing stages, and it was once again Çalhanoğlu who delivered. In the 86th minute, after sustained possession around Como’s box, the ball found its way back to the Turkish midfielder. Showing the composure of a seasoned leader, he took control at the edge of a crowded area and found the angle to beat the goalkeeper once more, levelling the score at 2-2.
That second goal not only tied the match but also completely broke Como’s resistance. The visitors, who had spent most of the second half pinned back, suddenly looked exhausted and unable to clear their lines with any conviction.
Last-minute assist completes the miracle
Inter were no longer satisfied with extra time; they sensed that the winner was there for the taking. Just three minutes after the equaliser, in the 89th minute, Çalhanoğlu delivered the decisive moment yet again, this time as a creator.
Drifting into a pocket of space, he threaded an intelligent pass into the area, dissecting Como’s defence. Sucic met the ball with perfect timing and finished clinically to put Inter 3-2 ahead. In less than 25 minutes, Inter had gone from the brink of elimination to complete control of the tie, with Çalhanoğlu directly involved in all three goals.
Como tried to muster one final reaction in stoppage time, pushing players forward in search of an improbable fourth goal. Inter’s defence, however, held firm, clearing crosses and cutting out passes until the referee blew the final whistle. The comeback was complete, and Inter’s place in the Italian Cup final was secured.
A night that defines Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s leadership
This semi-final second leg will likely be remembered as one of the defining performances of Çalhanoğlu’s career in Italy. His long-range strikes showcased his well-known shooting ability, but it was his influence on the game’s tempo and his leadership in the most difficult phase that truly stood out.
When Inter were 2-0 down, he repeatedly demanded the ball, tried risky passes, and took responsibility for shots from distance. After his first goal, he became the focal point of every attack, orchestrating play, switching flanks and constantly looking for spaces in Como’s defensive block. His late assist demonstrated his vision and understanding of his teammates’ movements.
For Inter fans, this performance reinforces his status as one of the key figures of the team. For neutral observers, it underlines why he is considered one of the most complete midfielders in European football: capable of scoring, creating, and dictating the rhythm in high-pressure knockout games.
Tactical turning points and Chivu’s influence
While Çalhanoğlu rightly takes the headlines, Cristian Chivu’s adjustments from the touchline also played an important role in the comeback. After the second Como goal, Inter shifted to a more aggressive shape, committing their full-backs higher up the pitch and pushing an extra midfielder closer to the forwards.
This change stretched Como’s compact defensive block, opening pockets of space on the edge of the box and allowing Çalhanoğlu more room to operate in his favoured zones. As Inter’s territorial dominance grew, Como’s counters became rarer and less dangerous, turning the match into a siege of the visitors’ penalty area.
The importance of mentality in cup football
The match was also a clear illustration of how psychological momentum can swing dramatically in knockout competitions. For more than an hour, Como played with calmness and confidence, executing their plan almost to perfection. Once Inter scored their first goal, however, the mental balance shifted.
Inter, freed from the weight of frustration, began to take more risks and play with greater fluidity. Como, sensing that the tide was turning, dropped deeper and focused primarily on defending their lead. That invited even more pressure and kept the ball in dangerous areas around their box, where a player of Çalhanoğlu’s quality could make the difference.
This kind of comeback is precisely what makes domestic cups so unpredictable and compelling. On paper, the tie seemed straightforward, yet it took a spectacular response from one of Inter’s stars to avoid a major upset.
Who waits in the final?
Inter will now face the winner of the Atalanta vs Lazio semi-final. The first leg of that tie ended in a 2-2 draw, leaving everything open ahead of the return match scheduled for 22 April at 22:00 (Turkish time). Both Atalanta and Lazio have strong cup traditions and possess attacking players capable of deciding big games, meaning Inter are likely to face another intense and balanced final.
Whoever advances, Inter will go into the showpiece with growing confidence after proving their resilience and character against Como. Overcoming a 2-0 deficit in such dramatic fashion strengthens the belief within the squad that they can handle adversity and still prevail.
Italian Cup final on 13 May
The decisive clash for the Italian Cup trophy is set for 13 May. Inter will have some time to recover emotionally and physically from this exhausting semi-final while also preparing tactically for the specific threats posed by either Atalanta or Lazio.
For Çalhanoğlu personally, the final offers an opportunity to crown an already memorable campaign with silverware. Performances like the one against Como not only thrill supporters but also build a legacy; cup finals are precisely the kind of stage where such legacies are confirmed.
Broader impact on Inter’s season
Beyond the immediate joy of reaching the final, this victory could have a wider influence on Inter’s season. A comeback of this magnitude often serves as a psychological turning point, reinforcing group unity and strengthening trust between players and coaching staff.
Squads that experience such emotional highs in knockout games frequently carry that energy into the league and other competitions. Inter’s ability to respond under pressure, with one of their leaders stepping up, sends a positive message ahead of the crucial weeks to come.
A match that will live long in the memory
From Como’s early dominance and clinical finishing to Inter’s late surge powered by Çalhanoğlu’s brilliance, this semi-final had all the ingredients of a classic: tactical intrigue, emotional swings, individual heroics and late drama.
For Como, there will be regret at letting a two-goal advantage slip away, but also pride in having pushed one of the country’s biggest clubs to the limit. For Inter and their supporters, however, this night in Milan will be remembered above all as the evening when Hakan Çalhanoğlu took control of a seemingly lost cause and single-handedly dragged his team into the Italian Cup final.