Inter Milan Advance To The Round Of 16 Of The Champions League Through A 1-0 Tipis Victory Over RB Salzburg

Lautaro Martinez, the hero of Inter Milan's victory. (photo: twitter @inter)

JAKARTA - Inter Milan secured a place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a dramatic 1-0 victory over RB Salzburg.

Lautaro Martinez, who was in good form, emerged as a substitute and scored from the penalty spot in the 85th minute to bring the Italian group up 10 points in Group D. They are seven points ahead of their opponents.

Salzburg relied on goalkeeper Alexander Schlager's heroic performance, but in the end they had to give up on Martinez, a temporary Serie A top scorer.

The hosts started the game nicely and controlled a dangerous area where they created a number of chances through Roko Simic and Mads Bidstrup, but Bidstrup's shot in the 12th minute missed the target.

Inter were lucky not to give a penalty when Carlos Augusto seemed to push Simic to the ground from a corner, but the referee did not give the penalty the hosts asked for. Furthermore, Inter almost opened the scoring after 35 minutes.

Dead ball specialist Hakan Calhanoglu stands on the ball from a free kick and his cross meets Alessandro Bastoni's head whose effort almost shot into the net.

Inter were even supposed to take the lead at the last moment of the first half.Marcus Thuram came forward and provided a tough pass to Alexis Sanchez who acted quickly and chose to look for Davide Frattesi, but he fired his shot over the crossbar.

Coach Simone Inzaghi looked frustrated and had to motivate his players in the first half as they were finally able to come out with a stronger look in the second half. In the 73rd minute they threatened again from set pieces.

Federico Dimarco compiled the ball from a corner and provided Thuram with a perfect cross that failed to make a header into the ball in box six yards.

Moments later Schlager saved Kristjan Asllani's long-range low-ball effort. Interplayer protested when Thuram was not awarded a penalty in the 80th minute.

Martinez, who has 12 goals in Serie A this season, has finally emerged as a substitute. He brought the ball and provided a pass to Thuram who passed the last player's guard before being fouled.

But Salzburg's defense was finally breached when they received a penalty in the remaining five minutes of the match.