)
Obafemi Martins was instrumental in his debut season with Inter Milan and he almost secured their spot in the Champions League final when they played City rivals AC Milan in the semis 20 years ago.
The Champions League semi final clash between Inter Milan and AC Milan goes down memory lane when both sides clashed in the same competition 20 years ago.
Currently, Inter hold a two-goal advantage into the second leg but it was a different ball game during the 2002-03 season.
2003-02 UCL 1st leg semi final Milan derby
Both sides played a goalless draw at the San Siro as Milan were marked to be the home-team which meant that they had to score in the second leg to have the away-goal advantage.
)
13:53 - 11.05.2023
Obafemi Martins splashes bundles of cash on K1 De Ultimate in viral video
The former Super Eagles striker was in high spirits as he joined friends to celebrate the birthday of one of Nigeria’s finest music icons
Milan had a squad regarded as the best in Europe comprising Andriy Shevchenko, Gennaro Gattuso, Filippo Inzaghi, Clarence Seedorf, Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini.
The young Obafemi Martins in Inter’s squad
On the other hand, Inter had a compact team with the likes of Fabio Cannavaro, Hernan Crespo, Alvaro Reccoba, Javier Zanetti and Marco Matterrrazzi.
But Inter had a certain Obafemi Martins, a 17-year-old academy graduate who was gradually making waves both on the domestic scene and the intercontinental stage.
The future Super Eagles striker netted his first Champions League goal against Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16, and heading into the semi-final, Inter boss Hector Cupper was left with no choice but to take a big gamble.
2nd leg semi clash at the San Siro
Shevchenko had given Milan the lead right on the stroke of half time giving them advantage according to the away-goal rule.
)
20:31 - 04.02.2023
Obafemi Martins celebrates as son Kevin joins Monza
Obafemi Martins continues his legacy in Italy as his son leaves Inter Milan for Monza.
Reccoba was substituted for Martins after the interval as Inter knew that they had to score two goals to stand a chance of making it into the final.
Martins’ impact in the game
Not until the 84th minute before Martins evened the scores being at the right place and at the right to put the ball into the back of the net.
Four minutes later, another chance came begging as Christian Abbiati had to make an important stop from close range after Martins had set up Sierra Leone striker Mohammed Kallon.
Martins also missed another golden opportunity during injury time but it proved costly for Internazionale as they crashed out of the competition with Milan going through into the final to play Juventus at Old Trafford.
)
16:45 - 22.02.2023
UCL Osimhen surpasses Okocha, chasing Martins’ Champions League record
The Napoli striker could go on to seal his status as the top Nigerian striker in the Champions League after scoring against Eintracht Frankfurt.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)