Last-Gasp Thunderstrike: Inter's Zielinski Wonder Goal Secures Narrow Win Over Verona
2 November 2025
Late drama seals Inter's 2-1 win at Verona
Inter Milan head coach Kiivo credited his coaching staff for Piotr Zielinski's stunning strike, a candidate for the season's best goal, as Inter beat Hellas Verona 2-1 in Serie A's tenth round on Sunday.
Zielinski delivered a superb goal after Hakan Calhanoglu sent a direct corner to the edge of the box, where the Polish midfielder met it with a rising volley into Verona's net, giving Inter the lead.
Verona equalized through Giovanni before the end of the first half, and Inter regained momentum in the 90+4th minute with a dramatic own goal by Martin Frisi, gifting the Nerazzurri a last‑gasp winner.
The victory was hard-fought, and Koivo celebrated the late winner by sprinting and sliding on one knee across the pitch, the kind of celebration that makes you believe the football gods enjoyed the plot twist as much as the supporters did.
Koivo joked to DAZN after the match: “I’ve ruined my kit, I’m wearing a tracksuit now—the sponsors are a little angry.” He added that these matches are easy to lose, so winning this way makes the team mindful of how quickly things can unravel.
The first Zielinski goal was beautiful, Koivo explained, noting that he drew inspiration from Angelo Palombo, a member of his staff and former Sampdoria and Inter midfielder.
“I was against that idea! If things had gone wrong, they could have hit us on counterattacks. But with the quality we have, it’s worth trying. All credit to Angelo, Filippo, and the players who are committed to innovating set-pieces,” the coach said.
Regarding Lautaro Martínez, Koivo said he hadn’t scored in a week but did in Brussels, insisting there’s no overreaction: his leadership and effort keep him a model for everyone, even when the goals don’t flow every week.
As for Akanji’s future, the Swiss defender kept his mood upbeat about his Inter spell, underscoring his happiness at the club. He joined on loan from Manchester City with an option to buy and has become a regular starter for how much the coach relies on him this season.
Inter’s win lifts them to 21 points in third place, closing the gap on Napoli and Roma as the league table tightens. The coming weeks bring back-to-back tests against Lazio and Milan, which will reveal how far Inter can push this campaign.
Ultimately, Inter looks to build on a positive run and maintain pressure on the league leaders, while Verona will regroup and aim to bounce back in their next assignment.
Punchline 1: If goals were coupons, Zielinski just made Inter rich and Verona a bit poorer—talk about a discount on drama. Punchline 2: When a coach slides on a knee after a late win, you know the tactic was worth every sprint and squeal from the bench—comedy gold meets calcio flair.
