Final score

1 March 2015 18:00

Inter
0 - 1
Fiorentina
11' (2nd half) Salah
Referee: Davide Massa / Linesmen: Vuoto, Preti / Fourth official: Ranghetti / Assistants: Di Bello, Candussio
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
46' The half-time whistle blows with the scores level at 0-0.
45' The referee signals that there'll be just one minute of added time here at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
43' Montella is forced into a change after Babacar pulls up with a hamstring injury. Salah is the man replacing him.
43' Babacar is clearly struggling here and can't continue. Salah is warming up on the touchline.
40' Inter work a smart free-kick routine to Juan Jesus in the danger area, but the ref blows his whistle for offside on the Brazilian.
37' Icardi looks for Podolski at the far post, but Tomovic gets there first to cushion a smart header back to Neto.
35' What an effort from Guarin! The Colombian picks the ball up and unleashes a right-footed thunderbolt which ricochets off the upright!
34' Tomovic cuts out Santon's cross. Corner kick for the Nerazzurri here at San Siro.
31' Tomovic finds Kurtic in a good position, but the Slovenian blazes his shot over the bar.
26' Aquilani with a tackle from behind on Medel. It's an ugly challenge and the Viola man is rightly booked by Massa.
25' Ilicic bursts down the right and puts a ball into the box. The Nerazzurri rearguard clear easily.
22' Santon swings the ball in from the flank, but Neto gets up to claim.
20' Guarin with some excellent work to steal past Pasqual on the right. The Colombian fires the ball in, but the Viola hack it away.
17' Pasqual fires in a low cross from the left for Babacar to nudge on, but Handanovic is alert and smothers the ball.
16' Santon and Podolski link up nicely, but the cross from the left is put behind for a corner.
12' Lovely combination play from Podolski and Kovacic inside the Fiorentina area, but the German forward just can't work the keeper.
10' Diamanti has a crack from a Viola free-kick, but Handanovic does excellently to get down smartly and make the stop.
8' Kurtic looks for goal from outside the area, but the Nerazzurri defence stand firm to repel the shot.
6' Fiorentina break. Babacar cuts in from the left and looks to find Diamanti in the box, but Juan Jesus cuts it out and dispels the danger.
4' Guarin knocks the ball past Pasqual, who pulls the Colombian back. The referee awards Inter a free-kick midway into the Fiorentina half.
1' The Nerazzurri are on the front foot instantly. Podolski crosses in from the right, but Gonzalo Rodriguez is here to clear the danger.
1' The visitors get us underway here at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
Minute Text commentary
51' The final whistle blows. Fiorentina go home with a 0-1 win, courtesy of a second-half Salah strike.
50' Shaqiri puts in another cross, but Neto can claim easily.
47' Shaqiri swings in a great free-kick for Palacio, but the Argentine's header is kept out by an incredible Neto save.
45' There'll be six minutes' added time here at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
43' Shaqiri almost finds Guarin lurking at the far post, but the ball is just too long for the Colombian schemer.
40' Brozovic picks up a booking for dissent.
39' What a chance for Palacio! The Argentine bursts into the area and looks for goal with his right, but Neto makes light work of it.
38' Tomovic has picked up a serious looking injury and can't continue. Fiorentina will have to play out the rest of the match with ten men.
36' Montella makes his last change of the match, with Aquilani coming off for Vargas.
34' Vidic comes close with another header, but it finishes just wide.
33' Mancini makes his third and final change of the match, with D'Ambrosio coming on for Davide Santon.
32' Ilicic lets fly with a left-footed effort, but Handanovic is quick to the save.
31' Shaqiri whips in a free-kick for Vidic, but the Serb's bullet header is saved by Neto in the Fiorentina goal.
27' Both sides make a change here at San Siro. Joaquin replaces Diamanti for Fiorentina, with Kovacic making way for Palacio for Inter.
27' Lovely play from Inter. Guarin finds Shaqiri, who in turn lays it off for Icardi. The Argentine can only shoot over from a good position.
24' Diamanti upends Santon right on the byline. The Viola man gets a booking for his troubles and Inter have a free-kick.
22' Shaqiri threatens instantly. Gathering a nice pass from Kovacic, the Swiss' right-footed shot draws a smart save from Neto.
20' Mancini shuffles his pack, bringing on Shaqiri in place of Podolski.
17' Diamanti threads a pass through for Salah, whose control allows Handanovic to avert the danger.
14' Guarin tries a low shot from some distance, but Neto is on his toes to gather the ball.
14' Icardi appears to be brought down in the area. Despite the protests of the Nerazzurri players, Massa waves play on.
11' Fiorentina take the lead. Handanovic parries Pasqual's cross, but Salah is there to slot home and give the visitors the lead.
10' Guarin sets Icardi in behind the Fiorentina defence, but Massa blows his whistle for offside against the Argentine.
7' Juan Jesus also picks up a booking after taking Aquilani's legs.
4' Vidic brings down Salah to concede a free-kick and earn himself a booking.
3' Ilicic tries a shot from the edge of the area, but Handanovic does well to make the stop.
1' Podolski swings a cross in which picks up a wicked deflection from Tomovic. Neto keeps his eye on the ball to make the stop.
1' We're back underway here at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Neither side have made any changes at the break.
Santon
5.85
5.85
Jesus
4.59
4.59
Guarin
6.66
6.66
Palacio
3.87
3.87
Handanovic
3.73
3.73
Kovacic
3.47
3.47
Campagnaro
3.68
3.68
Icardi
4.61
4.61
D'Ambrosio
5.34
5.34
Vidic
5.34
5.34
Medel
5.73
5.73
Podolski
3.12
3.12
Shaqiri
6.54
6.54
Brozovic
4.78
4.78
Average rating 4.81
5 shots on target 4
7 shots off target 4
15 fouls committed 12
5 corners 1
4 offsides 3
60% ball possession 40%
wins(51) draws(20) defeats(16)

MILAN – A frustrating evening saw the Nerazzurri beaten 0-1 by Fiorentina at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza tonight. In a largely even contest, it was Viola man Mohamed Salah who scored the decisive goal in the 56th minute of the match.

The visitors created the first chance of the encounter, with Diamanti’s free-kick drawing a punch from Handanovic. Montella’s side again threatened on 17 minutes, with Pasqual whipping in a low cross for Babacar. The young Senegalese got the slightest of touches, but Handanovic was there again to gather the ball.

Inter jolted into life in the 20th minute. Guarin burst down the right, firing a low cross into the danger zone, but Rodriguez just managed to hack it away to safety. The Colombian was behind the Nerazzurri’s next chance, and it was so nearly a repeat of his heroics against Celtic as he watched a right-footed scorcher cannon off the upright.

Fiorentina continue to trouble Inter after the half-time break – which saw Stefano Vecchi’s Primavera receive rapturous applause from the San Siro faithful in recognition of their Viareggio Cup win – and were ahead within 11 minutes. Pasqual swung another cross in from the left, but Handanovic could only parry to the waiting Salah. The Egyptian coolly slotted home to give his side the lead.

The Nerazzurri looked to respond and had a decent shout for a penalty after Icardi was upended in the box on 59 minutes. The referee waved play on, and Guarin’s follow-up was saved by Neto. Inter were pushing hard for an equaliser, and nearly got it when Brozovic, Guarin and Shaqiri combined to set up Icardi, only for the Argentine to shoot over from a good position.

With the Viola dropping off, Palacio had a great chance to even the scores in the 83rd minute, but saw his shot saved again by Neto when the onrushing Icardi would’ve had the goal at his mercy. In the first minute of stoppage time, Palacio looked to have fired a bullet header into the net, but the inspired Neto got his fingertips to it to save a certain goal. 

INTER 0-1 FIORENTINA (HT: 0-0)
Scorers:
Salah 56.

INTER: 1 Handanovic; 14 Campagnaro, 15 Vidic, 5 Juan Jesus, 21 Santon (D'Ambrosio 78); 13 Guarin, 18 Medel, 77 Brozovic; 10 Kovacic (Palacio 72); 9 Icardi, 11 Podolski (Shaqiri 65).
Subs not used: 30 Carrizo, 6 Andreolli, 17 Kuzmanovic, 20 Obi, 22 Dodo, 23 Ranocchia, 26 Felipe, 28 Puscas, 33 D'Ambrosio, 88 Hernanes.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.

FIORENTINA: 1 Neto; 40 Tomovic, 15 Savic, 2 Rodriguez, 23 Pasqual; 16 Kurtic, 5 Badelj, 10 Aquilani (Vargas 81); 18 Diamanti (Joaquin 72), 30 Babacar (Salah 43); 72 Ilicic.
Subs not used: 31 Rosati, 24 Lezzerini, 4 Richards, 7 Pizarro, 9 Gilardino, 20 Borja Valero, 28 Alonso, 32 Lazzari, 38 Rosi.
Coach: Vincenzo Montella.

Booked: Aquilani 26, Vidic 59, Juan Jesus 52, Diamanti 69, Brozovic 85.
Added time: 1 + 6 mins.

Referee: Massa.
Assistants: Vuoto, Preti.
Fourth official: Ranghetti.
Additional assistants: Di Bello, Candussio.

starting lineups

Handanovic 1 1 Neto
Campagnaro 14 40 Tomovic
Vidic 15 15 Savic
Jesus 5 2 Rodriguez
Santon 21 23 Pasqual
Guarin 13 16 Kurtic
Medel 18 5 Badelj
Brozovic 77 10 Aquilani
Kovacic 10 18 Diamanti
Icardi 9 72 Ilicic
Podolski 11 30 Babacar

substitutes

Carrizo 30 31 Rosati
Andreolli 6 24 Lezzerini
Palacio 8 4 Richards
Kuzmanovic 17 6 Vargas
Obi 20 7 Pizarro
Dodò 22 9 Gilardino
Ranocchia 23 17 Joaquin
Felipe 26 20 Borja Valero
Puscas 28 28 Alonso
D'Ambrosio 33 32 Lazzari
Hernanes 88 38 Rosi
Shaqiri 91 74 Salah