Early Edin Dzeko And Henrikh Mkhitaryan Goals Give Inter Advantage Over AC Milan In UCL Semi-Final

Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored early goals in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg as Inter Milan stormed into a 2-0 lead over AC Milan.

AC Milan 0-2 Inter Milan

Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan both scored inside the first 11 minutes of Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg as Inter Milan stormed into a 2-0 lead.

Milan had only conceded once in their previous six UCL matches, but their defense was undone by an eighth-minute corner kick. Hakan Calhanoglu swung in a cross for Dzeko, who thundered home a left-footed volley from eight yards.

“A GOAL WORTHY OF THE MOMENT!”

37-year-old Edin Džeko with a stunning finish. 🍷 pic.twitter.com/RpbKtJiTcS

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 10, 2023

Edin Džeko volleys the Nerazzurri ahead inside ten minutes 🔵⚫#UCL pic.twitter.com/a0Rh4jVs35

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 10, 2023

Inter Milan no.9 Edin Dzeko pictured volleying the ball to score against AC Milan in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg :: IMAGO/Gribaudi/Daniele Buffa

It was 2-0 moments later.

Federico Dimarco got forward down the left flank and pulled the ball back towards Lautaro Martinez, who let it run on to Mkhitaryan. The Armenian's first touch took him inside the penalty area and his second saw him fire a powerful shot past keeper Mike Maignan.

TWO GOALS IN THREE MINUTES.

INTER ARE FLYING. 💥 pic.twitter.com/9K6yD4wZsu

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 10, 2023

Henrikh Mkhitaryan makes it two 🤯#UCL pic.twitter.com/039rKVFUFd

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 10, 2023

4 - Internazionale are only the fourth side to take a two-goal lead in the opening 11 minutes of a Champions League semi-final match, after Juventus v Man Utd in April 1999, Man Utd v Arsenal in May 2009, and Man City v Real Madrid in April 2022. Blistering. pic.twitter.com/2RTrGDiNsT

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 10, 2023

Both legs of this semi-final are taking place at the San Siro, but Wednesday's match was Milan's designated home game, meaning they had more fans inside the stadium.

However, it was the Inter supporters who were making the majority of the noise.

Those fans were celebrating again in the 31st minute when referee Jesus Gil Manzano gave Inter a penalty for a Simon Kjaer foul on Martinez.

But Manzano changed his mind after a VAR review and the spot-kick was unawarded.

Milan improved slightly in the second half but Inter still went close to adding a third on multiple occasions.

The second leg will take place next Tuesday.

3 - Internazionale have beaten rivals Milan three times in all competitions in a season (once in the Supercoppa Italiana, once in Serie A, once in the UEFA Champions League) for the first time since the 1994-95 campaign. Bragging. pic.twitter.com/DCzYtYGJVG

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 10, 2023