Inter earned a point despite being three goals down.

Portugal were three goals down after the first half, but Inter Milan still managed to come back and draw 3-3 away at Benfica in Group D of the Champions League.

The situation in this group was decided early on when Inter and Real Sociedad both secured qualification two matches early, meaning hosts Benfica no longer had a chance to reach the round of 16. However, this match still held significance for the visitors, as a win would give them an advantage in the race for first place in the group.

Alexis Sanchez equalized for Inter from the penalty spot, making it 3-3. Photo: Reuters

However, things weren't easy for Simone Inzaghi's team. They conceded a goal in the fifth minute when Casper Tengstedt broke the offside trap before setting up Joao Mario, whose shot bounced off the ground into the left corner of the net, leaving Emil Audero with no chance.

Mario, playing on the left wing for Benfica, was the best player in the first half. He took three shots, all of which resulted in goals. The second goal came after Kristjan Asllani lost possession just outside the penalty area, and Tengstedt seized the opportunity, crossing the ball for Mario to score.

Inter's defense continued to play as if they were half-asleep, allowing Benfica to freely combine in the penalty area. From a through ball by Rafa Silva, Tengstedt completed his hat-trick of assists with an outside-of-the-foot flick for Mario to run in and finish at the far post. The home team was somewhat lucky in this play as the pass deflected off Carlos Augusto. But Inter paid the price for neglecting Mario's movements in the penalty box.

However, the visiting team transformed in the second half. They surged forward in attack and put immense pressure on Anatolii Trubin's goal. From a corner kick, defender Yann Bisseck headed the ball to Marko Arnautovic, who tapped it into the net from close range. Initially, the referee disallowed the goal for offside. But the semi-automatic offside technology quickly proved the Austrian striker was in a legitimate position.

Joao Mario's hat-trick in the first half wasn't enough to secure three points for Benfica. Photo: AFP

Just as Benfica scored quickly in the first half, Inter did the same in the second. From Francesco Acerbi's cross, Davide Frattesi volleyed with his left foot into the left corner, leaving Trubin with no chance to react. Benfica could have restored their two-goal lead if Rafa Silva and Tengstedt had been more clinical with a counter-attack in the 64th minute.

Shortly after this incident, the referee awarded Inter a penalty, deeming Nicolas Otamendi to have fouled Marcus Thuram. From the penalty spot, Alexis Sanchez shot into the left corner, deceiving Trubin. The Chilean striker then ran to the corner flag and celebrated excitedly with the substitutes and Inter coaching staff.

The visitors' comeback could have been even more astonishing if they had capitalized on their late opportunities to take the lead. Inter held a clear advantage after home defender Antonio Silva received a red card in the 84th minute. However, the visitors were unable to utilize their numerical superiority for the remaining 15 minutes, including 10 minutes of added time, to secure the three points.

Earning a point didn't help Inter secure the top spot in Group D, as Sociedad drew 0-0 with RB Salzburg in the other match. However, Inzaghi's team will have an advantage going into the final matchday when they host Sociedad on November 29th.

Quang Huy

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