Martinez brace earns Inter cup triumph over Fiorentina

After scoring key goals against Benfica and city rivals AC Milan to help secure Inter Milan a spot in the Champions League final, Martinez netted twice as the Nerazzurri produced a 2-1 comeback win over Fiorentina to defend the Italian Cup title on Wednesday.

It’s the second trophy that Inter have won this season after also beating Milan in the Italian Super Cup in January — when Martinez also scored.

After a couple of matches to finish up Serie A, Martinez and Inter will be aiming for one more trophy when they face Premier League winners City in the Champions League final on June 10 in Istanbul, Turkey. In all honesty, I am moved, because for a couple of years we have been bringing trophies to this great club and we’ve got to continue this way, said Martinez, who also played a big role when Inter won Serie A in 2021. I want to keep contributing for Inter, because that’s what matters.

Martinez now has a career-best 27 goals across all competitions for Inter this season, having also helped Argentina win the World Cup in December. He’s also the only player to have appeared in all 54 of Inter’s matches this season. The match at the Stadio Olimpico was lively from the start as Nicolas Gonzalez put Fiorentina ahead three minutes in. Then Martinez took over to put Inter ahead before the break.

First, a perfectly placed through ball from Marcelo Brozovic set up the equaliser as Martinez ran onto the pass and scored with an angled shot into the far corner for his 100th goal with Inter. Then Martinez produced an acrobatic volley to redirect in a pass from Nicolo Barella. Martinez also nearly produced another goal when he set up Edin Dzeko with only the goalkeeper to beat but Dzeko’s shot sailed high over the bar.

Fiorentina will play West Ham in the Europa Conference League final on June 7. It’s the ninth Italian Cup title for Inter, while Nerazzurri coach Simone Inzaghi has now won seven of his eight finals as a boss. We started poorly and had the wrong approach, which is rare for us, but the guys did well to stay in the game anyhow and then turn it around, Inzaghi said.