MILAN – The fans didn’t have a second to catch their breath in this afternoon’s Week 13 match of the 2012/13 Serie A season between Inter and Cagliari at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
Inter started strong and Milito nearly found an early opener before Palacio’s effort hit the back of the net on the 10-minute mark after he was brilliantly picked out by Cassano. Sau equalised for the visitors on 43 minutes and then in the 2nd half, after Pinilla had hit the post, his dizzying feints got the better of Handanovic and the Nerazzurri defence to make it 1-2. On 82 minutes Stramaccioni sent on Alvarez and the Argentine repaid him by creating the play that led to Astori’s own-goal, making the score 2-2. Two minutes before full time Cagliari were reduced to 10 men (Pinilla left the pitch due to a back problem), but Inter missed out on a penalty in the 90th minute; Astori brought Ranocchia to the ground in the box – a clear foul – but Giacomelli did not whistle.
Inter remain in second place in the standings on 28 points.
Inter 2-2 Cagliari (HT: 1-1)
Scorers: Palacio 10, Sau 43, 66, Astori 82 (o.g.).
Inter: 1 Handanovic; 23 Ranocchia, 25 Samuel, 40 Juan Jesus (Coutinho 74); 4 Zanetti, 21 Gargano, 19 Cambiasso, 55 Nagatomo; 8 Palacio, 22 Milito, 99 Cassano (Alvarez 82).
Unused subs: 12 Castellazzi, 27 Belec, 6 Silvestre, 17 Mariga, 31 Pereira, 33 Mbaye, 41 Duncan, 42 Jonathan, 52 Romanò.
Coach: Andrea Stramaccioni.
Cagliari: 1 Agazzi; 14 Pisano, 15 Rossettini, 13 Astori, 8 Avelar; 20 Ekdal, 5 Conti, 4 Nainggolan; 7 Cossu (Dessena 68); 27 Sau (Ibarbo 74), 18 Nenè (Pinilla 36).
Unused subs: 25 Avramov, 19 Thiago Ribeiro, 24 Perico, 32 Casarini.
Coach: Ivo Pulga.
Referee: Piero Giacomelli (Trieste).
Booked: Cambiasso 26, Sau 40, Gargano 41, Nainggolan 50, Astori 51, Ekdal 61, Conti 73.
Sent off: Stramaccioni 90+2.
Added time: 2+3 minutes.
Attendance: 51,671.
