Nkunku penalty earns Milan draw against Inter in pre-season Perth friendly

Frenchman Christopher Nkunku converted a late penalty as AC Milan drew 1-1 with rivals Inter Milan in a lacklustre pre-season derby on Wednesday in Perth.

In front of 52,310 fans, Serie A champions Inter Milan appeared to be claiming the bragging rights after Federico Dimarco’s strike from close range in the 52nd minute.

But Nkunku was brought down by Carlos Augusto in the 83rd minute before squaring the contest with a superbly taken penalty.

The result ensured that new AC Milan coach Ruben Amorim is still seeking a maiden victory after his reign began with a 2-2 draw in a friendly against Celtic in Glasgow last month.

Amorim, fired as Manchester United coach in January, has been tasked with turning around ailing AC Milan, who missed out on the Champions League last season. He will have some concerns his new side were fortunate to escape with a draw following an error-strewn performance.

They will be encouraged by veteran midfield maestro Luka Modric playing the last 30 minutes having recently signed a one-year extension.

“It was nice to get some minutes under the belt and I felt good,” Modric said.

“It’s good to have these kinds of games to prepare for the season.

“I think we did a lot of good things and hopefully we can just improve.”

The match was the first for AC Milan since the death of Franco Baresi, who captained the club during a golden era in the 1980s and 1990s.

There was a minute’s silence before the match with players from both teams linking arms.

Modric started on the bench much to the disappointment of the crowd, with the Croatian receiving loud applause in the warm-up.

AC Milan dominated the early exchanges with teenager Alphadjo Cisse and Samuel Chukwueze, whose future with the club is reportedly uncertain, providing some dash.

American Yunus Musah appeared set to break the deadlock in the 18th minute only for his bullet to smash into the left post, leaving AC Milan further frustrated.

Inter Milan then took control of possession as the game went through a lull towards half-time.

With both coaches ringing the changes, the game opened up after the interval as Dimarco pounced on sluggish AC Milan defending.

Modric entered in the 62nd minute amid a big ovation from the terraces, but AC Milan’s struggles continued. They appeared set for defeat before Nkunku stepped up late. AC Milan will continue their pre-season against Chelsea in Jakarta on Saturday.

Inter Milan — who beat Manchester City on penalties in Hong Kong on Saturday — will remain in Perth to play Juventus on the same day.

Thousands pay tribute to Italian football legend Baresi: Thousands of people gathered outside a Milan church Tuesday to pay tribute to Italian football great Franco Baresi, who died last week aged 66.

Regarded as one of the greatest sweepers in football history, a funeral service for the former AC Milan captain was held at Milan’s Sant’Ambrogio Basilica.

Former teammates Paolo Maldini, Roberto Baggio, Alessandro Costacurta were among many football stars and AC Milan figures in attendance.

Outside mourners sang chants and waved red-and-black AC Milan flags, as well as shirts bearing Baresi’s iconic number six.

A World Cup winner with Italy in 1982 and a finalist at the 1994 World Cup, Baresi skippered AC Milan in the 1980s and 1990s when they won three European Cups and six Italian league titles.

He retired in 1997 after 719 matches with the Rossoneri, a record surpassed only by Maldini.

The club did not specify the cause of his death.

He had undergone surgery in August 2025 to remove a lung nodule.

Agencies