05/23/26 03:53:00
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05/23 15:52 CDT Dimarco caps Serie A MVP honor with a stunning free kick in
Inter Milan's finale
Dimarco caps Serie A MVP honor with a stunning free kick in Inter Milan's finale
By DANIELLA MATAR
AP Sports Writer
MILAN (AP) --- Inter Milan midfielder Federico Dimarco celebrated his Serie A
MVP award by scoring against Bologna as a much-changed Nerazzurri drew their
final match of the season 3-3 on Saturday.
The match mattered little as Inter already owned the league title --- and the
Italian Cup --- while Bologna had no chance of qualifying for Europe.
Inter coach Cristian Chivu gave players going to the World Cup an extra week
off --- namely Hakan Calhanoglu, Manuel Akanji, Marcus Thuram and Denzel
Dumfries --- but captain Lautaro Martnez started as the Argentina forward had
only recently come back from injury and needed more playing time.
Dimarco, who was presented with his award just before the match, scored the
opener with a stunning 25-yard free kick into the top right corner.
Federico Bernardeschi leveled just three minutes later and Bologna took the
lead shortly before halftime when Tommaso Pobega's volley took a double
deflection.
Bologna lost half of its previous home matches this season but it appeared as
if it was on course for victory at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara when Inter midfielder
Piotr Zieli?ski turned a cross into his own net early in the second half.
But Pio Esposito reduced the deficit in the 64th when he tapped in a rebound
after Andy Diouf's effort bounced off the post. Diouf got on the scoresheet
himself in the 86th.
Pedro's farewell
Pedro bid farewell to Lazio with the winning goal in a 2-1 comeback victory at
home against already-relegated Pisa.
The 38-year-old winger is leaving Lazio after five years with the capital club.
Pedro previously played for Barcelona, Chelsea and Roma and won a sackful of
trophies, including the World Cup with Spain in 2010 and the European
Championship two years later.
Lazio players wore a special commemorative patch on their shirts for his final
match.
Stefano Moreo headed Pisa in front but its lead didn't last long and Lazio
turned the match around with two goals in as many minutes from Fisayo
Dele-Bashiru and Pedro.
Most of the rest of the final round of Serie A takes place on Sunday night,
with four teams battling for the final two Champions League places and two
teams fighting against relegation.
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