INTER MILAN fans pleaded to be let back into the San Siro – after leaving while Barcelona were winning and before their incredible comeback.
Some dejected supporters walked out with Inter trailing 3-2 – and 6-5 on aggregate – deep into stoppage time in the Champions League semi-final.
ReutersDavide Frattesi sealed Inter’s 4-3 win in extra time after they trailed 3-2 deep into added time of the regulation 90 minutes[/caption]
Fans rushed to try to persuade staff to let them back in
But 37-year-old centre-back Francesco Acerbi netted his first ever goal in Europe’s top club competition to take a momentous tie into extra time.
That left those home fans who had already streamed out now feeling dejected for a totally different reason.
They were seen desperately running back to the entrance, while others were caught on camera trying to persuade staff to let them through.
One female employee on a door shook her head as a group of supporters appeared to beg her to help them get in.
Sub Davide Frattesi went on to fire Inter’s clincher in the added half-hour.
The Italians’ 4-3 victory on the night put them through 7-6 overall – the joint highest aggregate scorer EVER in a Champions League semi-final.
Barcelona had trailed 2-0 in the 3-3 first-leg draw.
And they suffered the same fate at the San Siro in an astonishing contest packed with brilliant attacking from both sides.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK
This time Lautaro Martinez’s 21st-minute opener and a penalty from Hakan Calhanoglu left Inter 5-3 up on aggregate.
But Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo levelled it up for Barca soon after the break before Raphinha put the Spanish giants 3-2 up on 87 minutes.
That sparked a batch of departures from Inter supporters.
But Acerbi – who was caught up in a “spitting” row just before half time – sent home an equaliser three minutes into injury time – sparking sudden attempts at a comeback of their own from fans who had walked out just moments before.
Frattesi then exchanged passes to slot home the decisive goal on 99 minutes.
That led to more amazing scenes – but on this occasion it was wild celebrating on and off the pitch, rather than frantic behaviour around the entrances.
Inter will now face either Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal in the final in Munich on May 31 – after ending Barcelona’s Treble dream.
And most fans had little sympathy for the early leavers who missed the party.
TNT Sports posted a clip of the supporters trying to return, calling it “crazy”.
TNT added: “The Italian team equalized in the last seconds and these people were unable to return to watch extra time!”
One viewer told the fans: “Well done. If you are a truly passionate fan of your club, you NEVER leave the stadium before the final whistle, regardless of the score or situation, you have to believe until the end.”
Another posted: “What they will regret about not being at the stadium at this historic moment is no joke.”
A third added: “Well done, until the final whistle damn it.”
GettyBarcelona looked like they were going through after Raphinha put them 3-2 up in the 87th minute[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
