MILAN – The Nerazzurri Under-19s left from another difficult away ground with all three points this afternoon to keep themselves in the hunt for a second-place finish with 90 minutes of the regular season to go. It proved to be a testing encounter for Daniele Bernazzani's lads against a resilient Padova side, but they ran out as 3-2 winners in the end.
Inter got the start they had hoped for when Portuguese forward Bocar opened the scoring with an acrobatic effort. Gabianelli's left-footed strike from the edge of the box then made it 2-0 with just 15 minutes on the clock.
The Nerazzurri youngsters took their foot off the pedal after the break, however, and let the tenacious hosts back into the game. Voltan pulled one back in the 69th minute from a free kick, which prompted Padova to pile forward in search of an equaliser, and it needed some inspired goalkeeping from Di Gennaro between the sticks to prevent them from doing so. Garritano restored the Nerazzurri's two-goal cushion on 88 minutes only for Padova to hit back immediately through Mbaye. Cesare Maestroni's team refused to lie down but Inter held on until the final whistle.
Three important points for the Nerazzurri Primavera but AC Milan's victory over Udinese (4-1) means the Rossoneri remain a point ahead in second place, which guarantees a spot in the Final Eight without having to go via the playoffs. It all comes down to what happens next Saturday: when the Nerazzurri welcome Bologna to the Centro Sportivo Giacinto Facchetti while the Rossoneri travel to Sassuolo.
Padova 2-3 Inter (HT: 0-2)
Scorers: Bocar 7, Gabbianelli 15, Voltan 69, Garritano 88, Mbaye 89.
Padova (4-4-2): 1 Maniero; 2 Acka, 5 De Biasi, 6 Barison, 3 Rosina (Vio 85); 7 Bellemo (Formigoni 59), 4 Mbaye, 8 Longato, 10 Beghetto; 9 Rivi, 11 Voltan.
Subs not used: 12 Pelati, 14 Costa, 15 Danieletto, 16 Minto, 18 Braschi, 19 Shahini, 20 Caporali.
Coach: Cesare Maestroni.
Inter (4-3-3): 1 Di Gennaro; 2 Bandini, 4 Donkor, 5 Zaro, 3 Paramatti; 6 Pasa, 8 Olsen, 10 Gabbianelli (Cannataro 73); 7 Bocar, 9 Colombi (Terrani 66), 11 Garritano (Pedrabissi 89).
Subs not used: 12 Dalle Vedove, 13 Cossa, 14 Yao, 15 Guglielmotti, 16 Ferrara,, 18 Palazzi, 21 Smug.
Coach: Daniele Bernazzani.
Booked: Zaro 40, Gabbianelli 54, Rosina 77.
Added time: 1 + 4 minutes.
