"Cambiasso! Once again he intercepts AC Milan's long pass buildup — Pirlo's pass doesn't make it to Inzaghi!"
From the start of the match, AC Milan's counterattacks had been repeatedly disrupted by Cambiasso, who anticipated precisely and positioned himself perfectly.
Suker watched the bald-headed Argentine jog slowly up the field.
The bald general was as composed as ever.
Cambiasso — Inter Milan's field commander — a player who plays with his brain.
He might not have exceptional talent or flashy skills, but he thinks on the pitch.
He studies tactics and makes the most decisive choices in real time.
In Suker's eyes, Cambiasso is more dangerous than players like Figo.
His presence significantly elevates Inter's overall cohesion and performance.
Just like these past few minutes — with Cambiasso cutting off key plays, AC Milan's counterattacks were stalling.
"That damned bald schemer!"
Suker clenched his teeth.
"If the aerial counters aren't working, then we'll go ground-based!"
But before that — they had to defend.
"Inter are counterattacking. Their pace isn't blistering, but they're threatening Milan's backline with solid passing!"
"And here comes Cambiasso again!"
Italia commentator Aldo Serena raised his voice.
Fresh off injury, Cambiasso was showing high intensity.
He received the ball, turned, and scanned the field —But Suker suddenly closed in, positioning himself to cut off the passing lane to Ibrahimović.
Cambiasso frowned slightly and turned halfway to pass.
But Suker lunged in, toe-poked the ball away, then accelerated after it.
Cambiasso tried to win it back, but Suker's close control was excellent —He escaped easily and offloaded the ball.
"As I thought!"Suker nodded to himself.
Cambiasso relied more on intelligence than technique.He almost never dribbled or faked — because he didn't have those skills.
And since returning from injury, his movements were noticeably slower.
The once tireless Inter engine was now drifting into 'veteran's football'.
Cambiasso stared at Suker, eyes fierce.
Suker widened his own eyes in mock defiance.
"Woo woo!"
"Here, have two woo woo!"
Cambiasso snapped and started cursing furiously in Spanish.
But Suker, who didn't understand Argentine insults, kept playing — unbothered.
Cambiasso chased him, shouting, but it was useless.
Suker was already back in midfield, receiving the ball again.
"Woo woo!"he taunted again.
Cambiasso rushed in.
Suker pushed the ball sideways, feinted right, stopped sharply, then used his left foot to spin and cut the opposite way.
That kind of explosive change of direction was extremely effective against aging players.
Physically, Suker had a clear advantage.
But Inter wouldn't let him off so easily.
"Close him down!"
Three players swarmed in.
Before the net could close, Suker spun and passed it back just in time.
"So fast!"
Even after getting bumped by Cordoba, Suker maintained balance.
He glanced at the Inter defenders still eyeing him warily.
Suker frowned.
"If Kaká were here, I wouldn't have to work this hard."
With Kaká, Suker would draw defenders, and Kaká would finish the job.
But this AC Milan lineup didn't allow that.
Thankfully, Ambrosini and Jankulovski were running nonstop in midfield, filling the void left by Gattuso.
They had scaled back their attacking force, but at least defensive stability was holding —And that was the most important thing right now.
"Suker needs to find a breakthrough!"
Coach Ancelotti watched anxiously.
As head coach, there was only so much he could do.
Now, it all came down to what Suker could create.
And Ancelotti trusted him.
"Find it. Create it!"
Suker roamed midfield, head turning constantly as he searched for an opening.
Damn Inter wasn't giving them a single gap.
The Milan backline continued to be under siege.
Suker paused suddenly.
"No opening? Then I'll create one!"
He turned and yelled at Cambiasso:
"WO WO!"
Cambiasso trembled with fury.
"Is this guy insane?! He's been cursing me nonstop since the match started!"
He needed to teach this brat a lesson.
Pirlo passed the ball to Suker.
Suker pretended to receive it — drawing Cambiasso in.
As expected, Cambiasso lunged for a body check.
BANG!
The collision was hard — their bones ached from the impact.
But Cambiasso couldn't knock Suker down.
Suker braced himself and absorbed it.
Then he swiveled around Cambiasso with a deft drag-back.
Once he got moving, Cambiasso had no chance of catching him.
And Cambiasso knew it.He shouted for help.
Suker looked up.
Cordoba hesitated, thinking Suker was about to pass.
"Don't hesitate!"Cambiasso shouted desperately.
But in that split-second hesitation, a gap opened in their trap.
Suker burst through.
"Suker is off — ooh! That's a foul by Cordoba!"
Cordoba lunged sideways to block his path — not to challenge, just to obstruct.
Suker smashed straight into him.Both went down.
"Damn it…"Suker rubbed his sore nose and got up.
It had been a great chance —Ruined by a tactical foul.
Cordoba was shown a yellow card.
"Milan keeps giving the ball to Suker, hoping his skill can unlock the game!"
"But Inter's marking is relentless. They'd rather foul than let Suker break past midfield!"
Suker got up silently and moved into the box to prepare for a set piece.
Despite the rough fouling, his eyes gleamed brighter than ever.
He could feel it — Inter feared him.
With each dribble, his presence pushed their defensive line further back.
But it still wasn't enough.
He had to be even more dazzling —Only then could he draw out the shadow lurking behind the spotlight.
This match wasn't just about Inter.It was about challenging his own limits.
"Hold steady, boss!"
Suker called out.
But just then, Cruz flicked a pass to the far post —Ibrahimović smashed it in with a volleyed strike!
21st minute, Inter Milan scores first!
Once again, Ibrahimović was the focal point of Inter's attack.
He sprinted away in celebration, euphoric —Like he was showcasing himself.
But when he saw Suker quietly jogging back, not even sparing him a glance…
He felt a little dissatisfied.
"Still not enough to make him take me seriously…"
"I need another goal!"
Only then would Suker acknowledge him.
Only then would AC Milan be crushed under the weight of failure.
"DEFENSE!" Maldini roared.
"Let's try not to concede again!"
Truthfully, Inter's goal wasn't surprising.
If they hadn't scored, that would've been weird —Given Milan's situation, it would've been embarrassing for Inter not to take the lead.
The blue-black assault continued wave after wave.
Milan could only strike back when they got a sliver of opportunity.
But overall —Momentum belonged to Inter Milan.