Dzeko inspires Inter to Italian Super Cup win

Riyadh, Jan. 20: Veteran forward Edin Džeko inspired Inter Milan to a 3-0 win over city rival AC Milan and a second straight Italian Super Cup trophy on Wednesday, adding to the Rossoneri’s woes.

Džeko scored one goal and also had a role in Federico Dimarco’s opener. World Cup winner Lautaro Martínez sealed the result late on as Inter lifted the first trophy of the Italian season at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“I will be 22 soon,” joked Džeko, who turns 37 in March but is showing little sign of slowing down. “We certainly put in a great performance, the lads really were splendid from the first to the last minute. We really gave everything we had. All of us.”

Inter’s defense of the title got off to a great start as it took the lead in the 10th minute. Džeko played a great one-touch layoff to release Nicolò Barella, who rolled the ball across for Dimarco to tap in at the back post.

That seemed to spark Milan into life and Inter goalkeeper André Onana had to pull off an impressive save to deny Rafael Leão.

Džeko got on the scoresheet himself in the 21st minute. He caught the Milan defense napping to race onto a free kick from inside Inter’s half and cut inside past Sandro Tonali before placing an angled strike past goalkeeper 

Ciprian Tătărușanu.And the Milan defense was at fault again for Inter’s third as Martínez shrugged off Fikayo Tomori all too easily before curling in a delicious strike.

Palace hold Man Utd Manchester United’s title momentum was dramatically halted Wednesday ahead of its visit to Premier League leader Arsenal at the weekend.

Leading Crystal Palace 1-0 after 90 minutes at Selhurst Park, United looked set to rack up a 10th straight win in all competitions and move up to second in the table, just six points off the top.

Michael Olise, however, completely changed the mood of the night by scoring a free kick in the first minute of stoppage time to earn Palace a 1-1 draw.

“We were 1-0 up. In the second half we had a lot of space to kill them and go for the second. I never saw we really went for the second goal,” United manager Erik ten Hag said. “It’s difficult to say (why). I have to criticize my team. Go for the second.”

United moved up from fourth to third in the league — level on points with Manchester City. While Ten Hag and his United players were left frustrated, Leeds can look forward to an FA Cup fourth round match with Boreham Wood or Accrington Stanley after a 5-2 rout of Cardiff in their third round replay.

It took a 90th-minute goal from Sonny Perkins to salvage a 2-2 draw in the original game but the replay was a much more one-sided affair. Leeds led 3-0 after 36 minutes with two goals from Wilfried Gnonto and another from Rodrigo. Gnonto gave Leeds a flying start with a stunning volley inside the opening minute and fired home his second after Rodrigo had struck his 11th goal of the season.

Patrick Bamford struck twice in the second half, while Callum Robinson pulled two back for Cardiff. Premier League survival remains Leeds’ priority as it sits just two points clear of the relegation zone. (AP)