(Benfica – Inter 0-2) Frederic Orsnes (27) Benfica had been level with Inter for a long time, but they collapsed in the second half of their first Champions League quarter-final match.
Niccolo Barella and Romelu Lukaku were in charge after the break, resulting in a two-goal victory for Inter. Thus, Orsnes and Benfica have a very difficult starting point before the second leg in Milan.
– It’s not perfect, but we can’t give up and we have to give everything in Italy, says Aursnes in an interview shown on TV2.
– A miracle would have been good, and of course we must believe in it. We have to perform superlatively there – and that’s possible, adds the Norwegian.
The Portuguese hosts led large parts of the match for a long time, squandering their chances before the Italian guests finished on top against the run of play.
Alessandro Bastoni put in a perfect cross at the back post, as an unmarked Barella headed in five minutes after half-time.
The visiting team was awarded a penalty near the end of the match after a VAR check, when Benfica captain Joao Mario received the ball in his hand with a header. From eleven metres, Lukaku sent Inter into a two-goal lead.
National team player Ursnes has played heavily in Portugal this season and, apart from Erling Braut Haaland, is the first Norwegian player to play in the quarter-finals of the Champions League since 2008. The previous Norwegian quarter-finalist – with the exception of Haaland – was then. Liverpool’s John Arne Reese, who came off against Chelsea 15 years ago, has since been out.
The second leg will take place in San Siro on April 19.
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