UCL: VAR drama ends in Liverpool’s favour as Szoboszlai seals late victory

Dominik Szoboszlai converted an 88th-minute penalty to hand Liverpool a vital Champions League victory over Inter Milan at the San Siro on Tuesday night, Sport360NG reports.

The build-up to the match had been overshadowed by Mohamed Salah’s omission from the squad following public criticism of the club and reported tensions with manager Arne Slot. With the Egyptian absent, Szoboszlai took responsibility from the spot after VAR confirmed that Alessandro Bastoni had pulled Florian Wirtz’s shirt inside the box.

Goalkeeper Yann Sommer guessed correctly but was beaten by the sheer power of the strike, securing a much-needed three points for Liverpool after a turbulent spell.

Slot’s side, who had suffered nine defeats in their previous 12 matches, have now put together a four-game unbeaten run. The win lifts Liverpool to 12 points from six group-phase fixtures, pushing them into the top eight, the positions that guarantee automatic progression to the last 16 under the new Champions League format.

Inter, level on points with Liverpool before kick-off, dropped to fifth as they suffered their first home defeat in the competition in 19 matches.

Liverpool believed they had gone in front just after the half-hour mark when Ibrahima Konaté headed in from a corner, only for referee Felix Zwayer to rule it out after VAR determined the ball had struck Hugo Ekitike’s arm in the buildup.

Despite that setback, the Reds applied consistent pressure, with Curtis Jones, Szoboszlai and Ekitike each drawing saves from Sommer. Inter were forced into early changes as Piotr Zielinski and Yann Aurel Bisseck both exited through injury.

The hosts grew into the game, with Nicolò Barella curling a free-kick narrowly wide and Lautaro Martínez denied by a sharp Alisson header save.

The match appeared destined to finish goalless, which would have been the first stalemate of Slot’s tenure, until substitute Wirtz capitalised on Bastoni’s misjudged pull in the area. Szoboszlai kept his composure to secure Liverpool’s fourth consecutive win at the San Siro in as many years.