AC Milan 1-1 Inter Nkunku’s Late Equalizer Sinks Milan’s Preseason Hopes Down Under

FolioPitch.com – 05 August 2026 | AC Milan‘s preseason campaign hit a roadblock as they drew 1-1 with arch-rivals Inter in a highly anticipated friendly match in Perth. The Rossoneri had the upper hand for most of the game, creating several scoring opportunities, but ultimately, it was Inter who took the lead through Federico Dimarco‘s tap-in in the 67th minute. However, Christopher Nkunku‘s late penalty conversion in the 86th minute ensured that the match ended in a stalemate.

The match began with Milan dominating possession and creating chances, but it wasn’t until the 12th minute that they really threatened to take the lead. Samuel Chukwueze’s cross found Alphadjo Cisse, who couldn’t quite nestle the ball inside the near post. Three minutes later, another opportunity arose when Loftus-Cheek squared the ball to Yunus Musah, but the midfielder’s shot from 12 yards out hit the post.

The first half saw Milan controlling the pace, with Ruben Amorim’s side creating several scoring opportunities. However, it wasn’t until the 67th minute that Inter took the lead through Dimarco’s tap-in from a Barella feed. Milan’s defense was caught off guard, and several players were left in no man’s land inside the box.

Just after the hour mark, Milan made eight changes to their starting lineup, which saw the introduction of players like Leao and Ramos. The duo instantly looked lively, and an interchange between them saw Inter’s goalkeeper Provedel called into action to prevent a tap-in for Nkunku.

The match took a dramatic turn in the 83rd minute when Milan were awarded a penalty. A give-and-go between Nkunku and Modric saw the latter dragged down by Augusto as he looked to latch onto a through ball. Nkunku dusted himself down and took on the responsibility from 12 yards, converting the penalty emphatically.

The second half saw both teams create scoring opportunities, but it was Inter’s goalkeeper Torriani who made a stunning diving stop to deny a laser from Calhanoglu in the dying minutes. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with AC Milan 1-1 Inter Nkunku cancels out Dimarco opener in derby draw down under.

Despite the draw, Milan’s preseason campaign has been marked by two draws from two, and it remains to be seen how the team will perform in their upcoming matches.