Inter Milan extended their flawless run in this season’s Champions League with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over resilient debutants Kairat Almaty at the San Siro on Wednesday night.
Carlos Augusto was the hero for the Nerazzurri, firing home a low, powerful strike in the 67th minute to seal Inter’s fourth straight win in the group stage.
The result leaves the Italian giants in a strong position to reach the knockout rounds, as they sit third in Group C, level on 12 points with Bayern Munich and Arsenal.
With four games remaining, Simone Inzaghi’s men are edging closer to qualification for the last 16.
Despite the win, Inter will need sharper performances in their upcoming clashes, especially with daunting fixtures against Liverpool, Arsenal, and Atletico Madrid still to come.
“There are no easy games in the Champions League,” Augusto told Amazon Prime Video after the match. “We didn’t perform at our best, but we kept our composure and got the win. We know our quality and have to show it every time.”
Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring just before halftime, tapping in after his initial effort was blocked, marking his 160th goal for the club.
However, Inter’s defensive lapse allowed Ofri Arad to head home an equalizer for Kairat nine minutes into the second half, the first goal the Italians have conceded in this season’s competition.
Kairat, making their first appearance in Europe’s elite tournament, showed admirable fight and organization. Goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov was outstanding, producing key saves to deny Martínez and substitute Pio Esposito.
The visitors even came close to taking a shock lead before halftime when Dastan Satpayev’s deflected strike grazed the crossbar, briefly silencing the San Siro crowd.
But Inter’s quality eventually prevailed, with Augusto’s thunderous finish ensuring all three points stayed in Milan.
For Kairat, who have just one point from four matches, the dream of progressing isn’t over yet.
They’ll face Copenhagen, Olympiakos, and Club Brugge before wrapping up their campaign with a trip to Arsenal, still chasing a historic first Champions League win.
