MIAMI - The Nerazzurri have emerged victorious over great rivals Juventus in the 7th/8th place play-off in the Guinness International Champions Cup. 1-1 after 90 minutes, Inter saw off the Bianconeri 9-8 at the end of a marathon shootout.
Walter Mazzarri began with Handanovic in goal, and a back three of Campagnaro (having served his suspension against Valencia), Ranocchia and Juan Jesus. Nagatomo, Kuzmanovic, Cambiasso, Guarin and Pereira made up the middle five from left to right, with Alvarez partnering Palacio in attack.
FIRST HALF - The Nerazzurri kicked off in temperatures touching more than 30°C. Palacio had the game's first chance, as he was found by Pereira, but the Argentine could only shoot over. Inter went close again on five minutes as Guarin attempted an overhead kick in the middle of the area. Juve responded with a Chiellini effort from range, the centre back's powerful drive finishing wide of the post. Chances were coming thick and fast but neither side could find the target, with Vucinic heading over from a Pirlo free-kick on 10 minutes. It was a similar story for Fredy Guarin on the quarter-hour mark, as his effort from range skipped just wide of the upright. Midway through the first period Ricky Alvarez beat a couple of opponents and jinked his way into the penalty area before playing in Palacio. The Inter forward though was halted by an offside decision when one-on-one with Buffon.
Juan Jesus went into the book on 25 minutes for a foul from behind on Tevez. Pirlo nearly punished the Brazilian further from the resulting free-kick but his strike went inches wide of Handanovic's right-hand post. Inter then took the lead on 29 minutes, as Palacio found space on the left, before feeding Guarin in the middle: the Colombian's attempt was beaten away by Buffon but Alvarez reacted quickest to tuck the ball into the corner. Juventus threatened an equaliser two minutes later as Lichsteiner powered into the box and tried a difficult lob. Alvaro Pereira was on his toes 6 minutes before the interval, denying Vidal after the Chilean had been well found in the area by Vucinic. Alvarez once again showed enterprise on 41 minutes, going past Bonucci and trying his luck with his left: the ball went agonisingly wide. The Bianconeri were handed a great chance to draw level just before the break as Juan Jesus brought down Vucinic in the area with an untidy challenge. Vidal's neat and tidy penalty left Handanovic with no chance and the sides went in at half time with the scoreline Juventus 1-1 Inter.
SECOND HALF - Mazzarri opted for a goalkeeper switch for the second period, sending on Carrizo in place of Handanovic. The first opportunity of the second half fell to Juve: Pirlo switched the play to the left, feeding Asamoah, and the Ghanaian drove forward before seeing his powerful drive stopped by Carrizo. Olsen was given half an hour, replacing Cambiasso after 60 minutes. Antonio Conte made changes of his own, withdrawing Asamoah and Lichtsteiner for De Ceglie and Isla. Tevez cleverly found Marchisio a minute later, and his backheel from inside the six-yard box was pushed back to him by Carrizo. The Juventus man's second attempt only found the side netting however. Alvarez then played in Pereira on 65 minutes: his effort was goal-bound but deflected out for a corner. Conte made adjustments to his front pairing for the last 20 minutes of the contest: Llorente and Giovinco replaced Tevez and Vucinic. The Nerazzurri meanwhile sent on Belfodil for Kuzmanovic. Storari reacted sharply to deny Nagatomo on 75 minutes. Andrea Pirlo might have won it on 77 minutes but a trademark free-kick cannoned back off the post and the Inter defence were able to clear. There was just time for same final changes to personnel. Ogbonna took the place of Bonucci for Juventus, while Andreolli, Jonathan and Icardi came on for Juan Jesus, Nagatomo and Palacio respectively. The referee blew for full time and the match was to be decided on penalties.
PENALTIES - Giovinco was the first up in the shoot-out but Carrizo guessed right and parried well. Guarin had the chance to give the Nerazzurri the lead: Storari though got down sharply to his left to deny the Colombian. Marchisio, Ranocchia, Llorente, Alvarez, Pirlo, Icardi, Vidal, Belfodil, Ogbonna, Olsen, Caceres, Andreolli, Chiellini, Pereira, De Ceglie and Jonathan all then scored consecutively from 12 yards in an extraordinary display of steely nerves. Isla was next up but finally Carrizo pulled off another save, before dusting himself down and dispatching the winning penalty to take the shoot-out 9-8.
Juventus 1-1 Inter (Inter win 9-8 on penalties)
Scorers: Alvarez 29, Vidal (pen) 45.
Inter: 1 Handanovic (30 Carrizo 46); 14 Campagnaro, 23 Ranocchia, 5 Juan Jesus (6 Andreolli 79); 55 Nagatomo (2 Jonathan 79), 13 Guarin, 19 Cambiasso (90 Olsen 59), 17 Kuzmanovic (7 Belfodil 70), 31 Pereira; 11 Alvarez, 8 Palacio (9 Icardi 79).
Subs not used: 12 Castellazzi, 26 Chivu, 47 Capello, 93 Laxalt.
Coach: Walter Mazzarri.
Juventus: 1 Buffon (30 Storari 59); 4 Caceres, 19 Bonucci (5 Ogbonna 78), 3 Chiellini; 26 Lichtsteiner (33 Isla 59), 23 Vidal, 21 Pirlo, 8 Marchisio, 22 Asamoah (11 De Ceglie 59); 10 Tevez (14 Llorente 70), Vucinic (12 Giovinco 70).
Subs not used: 34 Rubinho, 6 Pogba, 13 Peluso, 16 Motta, 17 Marrone, 18 Rossi, 20 Padoin, 27 Quagliarella, 32 Matri, 41 Buchel, 50 Citti.
Coach: Antonio Conte.
Referee: Hilario Grajeda (USA).
Booked: Juan Jesus 25.
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