Düsseldorf (dpa) - Leverkusen conqueror Inter Milan has moved into the Europa League final in Cologne with a goal gala. The Italian runner-up around the again successful record scorer Romelu Lukaku defeated the Ukrainian champion Shakhtar Donetsk 5-0 (1-0) in Düsseldorf.
In the final of the final tournament held for the first time in North Rhine-Westphalia, Inter will meet the record winner of the small European Cup, Sevilla FC. The Spaniards had won 2-1 against Manchester United on Sunday.
Lautaro Martínez (19./73.) And Danilo D'Ambrosio (64.) gave Inter a 3-0 lead, then the hitherto hapless Lukaku scored in the tenth Europa League game in a row - and twice (78 ./84.). In addition, with 19 goals he is now the most successful Belgian in this competition. On Friday, Inter now have the last chance to avoid an entire decade without a title.
Most recently they won the national cup in 2011, the year before they celebrated their sixth European Cup triumph with a 2-0 win in the final against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Schachtjor had won the only European Cup victory in 2009 in the UEFA Cup through a final victory against Werder Bremen (2: 1 nV).
The game began curiously: after Lukaku had the ball exchanged shortly before kick-off, the second model was also flat after twelve seconds and was exchanged. The game also got off to a difficult start. Inter, who played in the formation as in the 2-1 in the quarter-finals against Bayer Leverkusen, acted from a compact defensive. The underdog, who appeared with five Brazilians, did not find any solutions despite ball security.
And then the Ukrainians gave Inter the lead with a dropout with the first shot on goal of the game. Nicolò Barella, as strong as against Leverkusen, picked up a failed ball from Shakhtar goalkeeper Andrej Pjatow, and Martínez headed his cross. For the Argentine it was the first Europa League goal, but he had scored five times in the preliminary round of the Champions League, including in both games against Borussia Dortmund (2-0, 2-3).
Donetsk had their first chance in the 62nd minute when Júnior Moraes headed from close range to Samir Handanovič. When D'Ambrosio headed the 2-0 immediately afterwards, the game was decided. Shakhtar surrendered now. Inter played their way into their intoxication and followed through with their dream storm Martinez and Lukaku.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 200817-99-204174 / 2
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Information about the game at uefa.com