Yamal shines, despite missed chances

Almost six minutes into stoppage time, Lamine Yamal entered the area with the ball in front of him and only the goalkeeper to beat.

The teenage sensation was being challenged by a defender, but looked well-positioned to find the net.

Instead of scoring the goal that would likely take Barcelona to its first Champions League final in a decade, Yamal could only manage a weak, left-footed shot that ended up in the hands of Inter Milan goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

Inter's defense managed to keep the 17-year-old Spain forward quiet in the first half on Tuesday, with Yamal restricted to just two dangerous runs. In the second period, though, he created chances and was a constant threat.

Yamal's missed opportunity at the end of regulation time proved costly, leaving the score even at 3-3 before Inter Milan prevailed 4-3 in extra time to advance to the final on a 7-6 aggregate score.

Yamal had scored an amazing goal in the first leg in Barcelona, but couldn't find the net this time to help Barcelona in the return match at the San Siro.

Another left-footed effort in extra time had Barca fans on the edge of their seats, but Sommer made a fingertip save to preserve the 4-3 lead.

"Which save will I remember?" said Sommer, the game's most valuable player. "The last one on Lamine Yamal. He is a great player and, fortunately, it didn't go in. Many teams would have given up after going down 3-2, but we didn't and managed to come back," Sommer told Italian broadcaster Sky TV.

Sommer had already made a few saves to stop Yamal during the match, including a diving, one-handed deflection to parry away a long-range strike by the young forward in the 77th, with the score tied at two apiece.

Yamal's missed opportunity at the end of regulation came only minutes after Inter had equalized through Francesco Acerbi.

Raphinha had put Barcelona ahead in the 87th in another thrilling match between the two clubs.

Yamal appeared to be in disbelief after that late miss.

After the referee blew the whistle at the end of regulation, he briefly covered his face with his shirt.

A trip to the Champions League final in Munich would have further added to the sensational start of Yamal's career, both with Barcelona and with Spain's national team, where he has been setting records and earning praise from across the soccer world.

Barcelona was trying to reach the final for the first time since it won its fifth Champions League title by beating Juventus in 2015.

Agencies