Inter Milan secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Fiorentina on Monday, scoring twice in stoppage time to return to the top of Serie A. The win came at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence, where Fiorentina, struggling near the relegation zone with just one league win this season, threatened to upset the visitors.
The match remained goalless for much of the encounter despite several chances, with Inter’s Carlos Augusto twice hitting the woodwork and Fiorentina goalkeeper David De Gea producing several crucial saves. De Gea denied attempts from Marcus Thuram and Pio Esposito, helping keep the home side in the lead for much of the second half.
Fiorentina broke through unexpectedly in the 65th minute when Alex Jimenez scored from outside the penalty area, beating Inter goalkeeper Ivan Provedel to put the hosts ahead. Jimenez’s strike came against the run of play, representing one of only two shots on target in the entire match for Fiorentina.
Inter responded with increasing urgency, pushing forward in the final stages. Thuram appealed for a penalty after a collision with Fiorentina defender Mohamed Viery, but the referee waved play on. Carlos Augusto twice came close to equalizing with headers that struck the crossbar.
With the match seemingly entering its final moments and Fiorentina on course for a surprise win, Inter struck twice in stoppage time. Thuram leveled just seconds into the added six minutes, expertly placing a finish to secure his side’s equalizer. Shortly afterward, after Thuram was fouled by Victor Valdepenas, Piotr Zielinski converted the resulting penalty, sending the ball off the underside of the crossbar and into the net to complete the comeback.
The late victory allowed Inter to surpass Lazio on goal difference and regain first place in the Serie A standings. Fiorentina, meanwhile, remain close to the relegation zone as they struggle for consistent results this season. The match illustrated Inter’s resilience while underscoring Fiorentina’s ongoing difficulties despite pockets of strong individual performance.