UCL: Dumfries, Yamal score wonder goals as Barcelona, Inter draw in six-goal cracker

Barcelona and Inter Milan shared four goals in the first half as both sides played out a 3-3 scoreline in their UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg encounter at the Olímpic Lluís Companys stadium in Spain on Wednesday night.

The exhilarating encounter was a joy to watch for neutrals as Inter Milan took the game to Barcelona, with the home side taking risks en route, clawing their way back into the encounter twice.

Marcus Thuram’s opener and Denzel Dumfries’ brace threatened a shock victory for Inter Milan. However, Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, and an own goal ensured Barcelona still have a chance of making the UCL final in a season they have arguably been the best side in Europe.

The goal rush started less than one minute into the encounter with Thuram, recently returned from injury, backheeled Dumfries’ low cross into the far corner for 1-0 after 30 seconds. The French striker’s goal went into the record books as the fastest goal in UCL semi-final history.

Dumfries went from provider to scorer in the 21st minute, connecting to Francesco Acerbi’s header from a corner kick with an overhead kick that fizzled in at the far corner for 2-0.

Yamal has arguably been the most likely Barcelona player to make things happen this season, and the 17-year-old prodigy delivered an excellent goal to pull Barcelona back in the game with a quick response. The wonderkid worked a yard of space for himself before curling a shot into the far corner to half the deficit on 24 minutes.

Yamal also struck the bar with another excellent effort before Torres restored parity before halftime, the Spaniard guiding Raphinha’s pass to the back post into the net for 2-2 at halftime.

Inter continued to show attacking intent as Barcelona looked to regain control of the match, and it was the visitors who retook the lead in the 63rd minute.

Dumfries completed his brace with a header from Hakan Calhanoglu’s deep corner kick for 3-2. The lead lasted less than a minute as Raphinha’s long-range strike hit the crossbar before hitting Yann Sommer, Inter goalkeeper, before going over the line for 3-3.

There was more drama late on as both sides chased the winner. Henrikh Mkhitaryan saw his goal chalked off for offside following a VAR review, while Yamal’s mishit cross also hit the crossbar, and both sides settled for a draw. The stalemate means that a winner will be decided in the second leg, set for the San Siro stadium in Milan on Tuesday, May 6.