EAST RUTHERFORD (New Jersey, USA) – This afternoon MetLife Stadium was the stage for the sixth test of the season for Walter Mazzarri’s Inter, and their second in the Guinness International Champions Cup (after the Chelsea match), as they took on Valencia, led by Serbian coach Miroslav Dukic.
Inter took to the pitch in their new kit and traditional colours: black and blue shirt, black shorts and black socks. Valencia were in white shirts, black shorts and white socks. This was Mazzarri’s starting XI: Handanovic in goal; Andreolli, Chivu and Juan Jesus in defence; Nagatomo, Guarin, Cambiasso, Kuzmanovic and Pereira in midfield; and Palacio and Belfodil as the strike partnership in attack.
The teams went into the dressing rooms with the Spanish side in the driving seat at 2-0 thanks to goals from Ever Banega and Jonathan Viera. Then in the second half they doubled their lead with efforts from Viera (again) and Jonas.
FIRST HALF – The Spanish side took the opening kick-off and there were few sparks early on as both teams opted to study their opponent. Then on 7 minutes, after an earlier free-kick that had sailed over the bar, Banega took aim from over 25 yards with a right-footer that rocketed into the upper right corner, reducing Handanovic to a spectator. The Nerazzurri first threatened through Pereira with a low cross for Belfodil who failed to put the proper touch on the ball. Banega nearly had his name on the score sheet again as another powerful long-range drive forced Handanovic into a fantastic save. On 16 minutes Cambiasso hit a long pass that was flicked on by Belfodil; Guarin got the better of Rami and his diagonal shot grazed the outside of the post.
Inter were becoming more confident and spending more time outside Diego Alves’ box. In the 17th minute Palacio was barely beaten to the ball by Ricardo Costa and three minutes later a header from Andreolli was deflected out for a corner. Referee Mark Kadlecik wasn’t pleased with Pereira’s tackle on Joao Pereira and showed him the first yellow card of the match. In the 22nd minute Pereira cut in from the left and ripped a diagonal shot that went wide of the post by a yard. Five minutes later Feghouli beat the Uruguayan wing-back to get off a shot from the corner of the box that Handanovic did well to save. A quality chance fell to Inter when Belfodil fed Kuzmanovic in the box, but his effort was blocked by the Spanish defence.
On 34 minutes the Spaniards added their second; a corner kick taken by Pereira was headed away by the Inter defence but only as far as Jonathan Viera, who sent his thumping shot past Handanovic. The first half ended after a minute of injury time and Valencia entered their dressing room leading the Nerazzurri 2-0.
SECOND HALF - The second half began with two changes made to the Nerazzurri’s formation: Ranocchia came on for Chivu and Alvarez took over for Pereira. Inter immediately looked dangerous when Palacio redirected a long pass from Alvarez into the net, but the goal was called back for offside. On 52 minutes Valencia nearly had their third when a header from the newly entered Jonas was miraculously pushed onto the post by a diving Handanovic. However, Jonas only needed four more minutes to get his name on the score sheet; the Brazilian collected a pass from Jonathan Viera and rounded Juan Jesus to beat Handanovic with a delicate touch. The Nerazzurri’s central defender was then booked for striking Jonas with his forearm after the goal.
With half an hour to go Feghouli saw his goal disallowed for offside. Then on 63 minutes Guarin took a free kick that was more powerful than precise and watched the ball sail into the crowd. Two minutes later the Nerazzurri went to the bench for a triple substitution: on went Jonathan, Olsen and Icardi and off came Cambiasso, Guarin and Palacio. With a vicious shot from a tight angle, Icardi tested Diego Alves who managed to push the ball away for a corner. Belfodil then beat two defenders on a run down the left flank to reach the goal line and cross; Alvarez collected the ball and crossed back to the Algerian whose header was snagged by Diego Alves.
The Nerazzurri made yet another substitution, this time the keepers, as Handanovic left the pitch for Castellazzi. Then in the 84th minute Olsen saw his name go down in the referee’s book after a tackle from behind on Jonathan Viera. On 90 minutes Valencia’s fourth goal came when Castellazzi parried a close-range effort from Jonas but could do nothing about the follow-up from Viera. The ball went back to the centre circle but in less than a minute Kadecik whistled to signal the end of the match: Valencia 4-0 Inter.
The Nerazzurri’s final game of the Guinness International Champions Cup will kick off on Tuesday evening when they face Antonio Conte’s Juve side that is coming off a 3-1 defeat by the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Inter 0-4 Valencia (HT: 0-2)
Scorers: Banega 7, Jonathan Viera 34, 90, Jonas 56.
Inter: 1 Handanovic (Castellazzi 79); 6 Andreolli, 26 Chivu (Ranocchia 46), 5 Juan Jesus (Laxalt 76); 55 Nagatomo (Mbaye 76), 13 Guarin (Olsen 65), 19 Cambiasso (Jonathan 65), 17 Kuzmanovic, 31 Pereira (Alvarez 46); 8 Palacio (Icardi 65), 7 Belfodil.
Unused subs: 30 Carrizo, 47 Capello.
Coach: Walter Mazzarri.
Valencia: 1 Diego Alves; 4 Rami, 12 Joao Pereira, 20 Ricardo Costa, 8 Feghouili, 18 Banega, 14 Juan Bernat, 15 Javi Fuego, 16 Michel, 17 Jonathan Viera, 25 Alcacer (Jonas 46).
Unused subs: 13 Guaita, 26 Lopez, 5 Victor Ruiz, 19 Barragan, 22 Mathieu, 24 Cissokho, 6 Romeu, 21 Parejo, 3 Salva Ruiz, 27 Ibanez.
Coach: Miroslav Dukić.
Referee: Mark Kadlecik (USA).
Booked: Pereira 18, Ricardo Costa 53, Juan Jesus 57.
Added time: 1 + 1 minutes.
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HIGHLIGHTS VALENCIA - INTER 4-0 GUINNESS CUP 04 08 2013
