After two goals each for Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez helped Inter Milan to a one-sided semi-final over Shakhtar Donetsk in Dusseldorf, Inter will face Seville in the final of this season’s Europa League.
Since Jose Mourinho lifted the Champions League in 2010, headers from Martinez in the 19th minute and Danilo D’Ambrosio in the 64th set Inter on track for their first major continental trophy. In 10 minutes, Martinez and Lukaku have added three more goals to ensure the result.
Heading in from the cross of Nicolo Barella, Martinez struck his first in the 19th minute after the midfielder had been gifted possession by Shakhtar goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov from a dire attempted clearance. Shakhtar goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov sliced a pass directly to the Inter midfielder Nicolo Barella, who sped down the right flank and sent in a cross that eluded Lukaku but left his strike partner Martinez with an easy header for the opening goal at the far post.
Just after the hour before Martinez sided in his second to secure the win and Lukaku came to the party with his own two smooth finishes, Danilo D’Ambrosio rose highest in the region to head home to Marcelo Brozovic’s corner.
Inter tightened his grip when D’Ambrosio headed in from Josip Brozovic at the far post off an outswing corner. That came less than two minutes after the game’s best chance on Shakhtar, headed straight at Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic from point-blank range by Junior Moraes.
In the 74th with a low shot from the edge of the box, Martinez got his second and he set up Lukaku four minutes later to score Inter’s fourth. The Belgian has scored this campaign in all games of the Inter’s Europa League. In the 84th minute, Lukaku outrushed defender Davit Khocholava to score his second and Inter’s fifth.
In the Europa League former Manchester United striker Lukaku has now scored 10 consecutive games and has 33 goals for the season.
Shakhtar’s only real chance was certainly a very good one, but Junior Moraes headed straight to Samir Handanovic for what would have been an equalizer from just a few yards out.
Inter now has the opportunity to claim a first trophy since Friday when facing Julen Lopetegui’s Seville, having missed a single point on the Series A title.
Inter 5 – 0 Shakhtar
Goals: 1-0 Martinez 19′, 2-0 D’Ambrosio 64′, 3-0 Martinez 74′, 4-0 Lukaku 78′, 5-0 Lukaku 84′
Yellow cards: Taison (S)
Inter: Handanovic, Godin, de Vrij, Bastoni, D’Ambrosio (Moses 81′), Barella, Brozovic (Sensi 85′), Gagliardini, Young (Biraghi 66′), Martinez (Eriksen 81′), Lukaku (Espostio 85′)
Shakhtar: Pyatov, Dodo, Kryvtsov, Khocholava, Matviienko, Antonio, Stepnaneko, Marlos (Konoplyanka 75′), Alan Patrick (Solomon 59′), Taison, Moares
