The chance for Inter Milan to score and tie the game late in the Champions League final was as clear as any team could hope for.
The ball floated slowly across the Manchester City goalmouth in the 89th minute toward the head of towering striker Romelu Lukaku, who stooped slightly four yards (meters) out with half the goal open to aim for.
Lukaku’s forehead guided the ball toward the net -– but almost straight at goalkeeper Ederson, whose left leg pushed it toward safety.
Somehow the 1-0 lead was intact and minutes later Man City was European champion for the first time, completing a rare treble with the English league and cup titles already sealed.
It had seemed inevitable that a striker of Lukaku’s quality, the all-time record scorer for Belgium, would find the net.
Almost 20,000 Inter fans massed at that end of the stadium could hardly believe he didn't.
It was that kind of final for Inter.
Even though a series of circumstances had give the Italian underdog a better shot at a fourth European title than most believed possible before kickoff.
Man City’s best defender, Kyle Walker, didn’t start the game, nursing an injury. Its best midfielder, Kevin De Bruyne, came off before the end of the first half because of a hamstring problem.
Their star striker, Erling Haaland, was held in check for most of the game.
And the goalkeeper, Ederson, had an uncharacteristically shaky first half.
Yet Inter never came close to scoring before halftime.
Then, within minutes of falling behind to Man City midfielder Rodri’s 68th-minute shot, Inter still could not convert back-to-back chances.
Both were clear headers in the goalmouth, the start of a misery-making hat trick of missed opportunities.
First, Federico Dimarco slipped behind the Man City defense to loop a slow header over Ederson who fell back into his goal as the ball bounced back of the crossbar.
The ball came back to Dimarco who crouched and dived to direct it back toward goal - and straight into the sturdy legs of Lukaku blocking the path.
It was not Inter’s night, and it has not been Italy’s time.
Three European finals, three losses in 11 days.
Inter joined beaten finalists Roma in the Europa League and Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League.
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