There are several historic Derbies of Milan, both from the Nerazzurri and Rossoneri sides. Often though, pragmatism slips away and matches become crazy carousels of goals that, in addition to endangering the coronary arteries of the fans, provide endless spectacle. Queen of all these games though can only be the Derby della Madonnina of November 6, 1949.
The war had ended a few years ago and Italian citizens wanted emotions, joy, spectacle. They wanted to celebrate, they wanted freedom. And Inter and Milan, on that cold fall afternoon, did their best to satisfy their fans. Inter, it is known, has always been considered crazy, capable of losing already won games and winning at the photofinish games that seemed hopelessly compromised. Well, that Derby is a perfect slice of the Pazza Inter, of a lunatic team, two-faced, but impossible not to love.
Inter starts badly, very badly, and in the first minute it is already down for the goal of Candiani, former Nerazzurri who has changed shirt. At the seventh minute again Candiani scores and all the Nerazzurri fans already figure the defeat. At the tenth minute however, Nyers, the Hungarian phenomenon of Inter, reopens the Derby with the goal of 2-1. Not even ten full minutes of play and already three goals! Inter’s reaction seems like a flash in the pan. At the fourteenth Nordhal, the Swedish firefighter, bags the 3-1 and after 5 minutes, at the 19th, his compatriot Liedholm stamps the 4-1.
The Rossoneri fans gloat… but they have not reckoned with Pazza Inter! At the 39th Lorenzi serves a chocolate to Amadei, who just has to score. After one minute Nyers, him again, scores a penalty, bringing the result at the end of the first half to 4-3. The hope flares: Inter returns from the locker room possessed and at the 50th Amadei marks his personal brace and the amazing and unthinkable draw. But it is not over yet.
At minute 58 Benito “Veleno” Lorenzi scores the incredible 5-4. The Milan however does not stand for it and reacts with pride and just a minute later, at the 59th, draws, with Annovazzi. The Nerazzurri however are untamed and set out to win. At the 64th again Amadei, author of a wonderful hat-trick, puts in the definitive 6-5! The last half hour goes by without further excitement, the teams are exhausted and so are the fans in the stands. They have just witnessed an amazing game, with 11 goals scored in just 64 minutes! A record probably unbeatable for our football, especially for a Derby of Milan.
An amazing feat, especially given the state of the game after only 20 minutes. Inter, already then, was crazy. But it is exactly on occasions like this that, besides losing a few years of life, its fans love it more than ever. Inter always reciprocates the love received with as many given emotions.
