Internazionale overcame a numerical disadvantage to beat Shakhtar Donetsk 1–0 at San Siro on Wednesday, with Carlos Augusto scoring the decisive goal in the 77th minute of their UEFA Champions League league-phase fixture.
Alessandro Bastoni’s dismissal in the 68th minute had left Inter facing a difficult final stretch. Instead, the hosts found the breakthrough nine minutes later and protected their narrow advantage through four minutes of stoppage time to claim all three points.
Goalless opening gives way to second-half drama
The sides went into the interval level at 0–0, with Oleh Ocheretko’s 36th-minute booking the only disciplinary incident of the opening half.
The second half brought a succession of cards. Marcus Thuram was booked in the 54th minute, followed by Bastoni in the 66th. Shakhtar midfielder Marlon Gomes received a yellow card in the 68th minute, the same minute Bastoni was shown red.
Inter were suddenly a player short with the match still goalless. Petar Sucic’s booking in the 72nd minute added to the hosts’ disciplinary tally, but the decisive intervention was still to come.
Carlos Augusto delivers the winner
Carlos Augusto broke the deadlock in the 77th minute, putting Inter ahead despite their reduced numbers. It proved the only goal of the evening, turning a testing situation into a valuable European victory.
Shakhtar finished with 55.3% possession, but their greater share of the ball did not translate into a goal. They registered 12 attempts, including four on target, while Inter produced 13 shots and five on target despite having 44.7% possession. The hosts also edged the corner count, five to four.
Three points secured against the odds
The narrow statistical margins reflected a closely contested fixture, but Inter supplied the moment that mattered and kept a clean sheet after losing Bastoni.
For Shakhtar, this was a frustrating departure from Milan: more possession and a numerical advantage over the closing stages, yet no reward. For Inter, Carlos Augusto’s 77th-minute winner made the difference on a night when resilience counted as much as attacking output.
