UPDATED: Lukaku’s goal helps Inter reach Europa League semis
Romelu Lukaku scored for a record ninth consecutive Europa League game as Inter Milan beat Bayer Leverkusen in Dusseldorf to reach the semi-finals on Monday night.
Nicolo Barella fired home an excellent 20-yard strike to give Inter the lead.
Lukaku controlled Ashley Young’s pass, turned a defender and slotted home for his 31st goal of the season.
βΆ | 46' – BACK UNDERWAY
Leave it all out there, lads! π#InterLeverkusen 2β£-1β£#UEL #FORZAINTER pic.twitter.com/dD2D3z2325
— Inter (@Inter_en) August 10, 2020
π πππππππππππ πππππππ β½π€#InterLeverkusen 2β£-1β£#UEL #FORZAINTER https://t.co/6i0OqIV1ei
— Inter (@Inter_en) August 10, 2020
Kai Havertz smashed home from six yards out to give Leverkusen hope but they could not find a leveller to force extra time in the one-off tie.
Antonio Conte’s side will face the winner of Shakhtar Donetsk v Basel in the semi-final on 17 August, also in Dusseldorf.
Lukaku is the first player to ever score in nine Uefa Cup or Europa League matches in a row, although that run includes five games for Everton in 2014-15.
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He twice prepared to take a penalty – in the first half and in injury time at the end – but both times the decisions were overturned by the video assistant referee.
The Italian side could have beaten Leverkusen by more with Lukaku forcing Lukas Hradecky into a good save and former Premier League players Christian Eriksen, Alexis Sanchez and Victor Moses going close after coming off the bench.