Soccer-Lukaku benched but delighted to still contribute to Inter victory

Soccer Football - Champions League - Quarter Final - First Leg - Benfica v Inter Milan - Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal - April 11, 2023 Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Pedro Nunes

LISBON (Reuters) - Inter Milan scorer Romelu Lukaku said he understood the reasons for being left out of the starting lineup for Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League win over Benfica but was delighted to contribute off the bench.

The Belgian striker has struggled with injury and form this season and saw the 37-year-old Edin Dzeko preferred to him to lead Inter’s attack for the quarter-final, first leg tie at Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz.