APPIANO GENTILE - Inter came from behind to draw 2-2 with Lugano in a friendly match played in front of president Massimo Moratti at La Pinetina this morning.
After a goalless (35-minute) first half, the visitors took the lead straight after the break when Tosetti concluded a superb solo run with a left-footed finish. Santillo then doubled Lugano's lead before Milito marked his return to first-team action by doing what he does best, finding the net with a well-placed shot from the edge of the box just short of the hour mark. Three minutes after the restart, Kuzmanovic completed the comeback with a superb long-range strike.
FIRST HALF – Lugano looked determined to put on a good show from the off and fired their opening shot in the third minute, Carrizo saving Sabbatini's low effort from the edge of the box. The visitors had an even better chance to draw first blood a few minutes later as Da Silva flew down the wing and entered the box: Carrizo stood his ground well and pulled off a superb block with his foot to keep the scores level.
Mazzarri's side gradually began to find their rhythm. Cambiasso saw a long-range attempt sail over in the 11th minute before recent Primavera acquisition Michael Ventre – partnering Milito up front – drew a foul on the 18-yard line. El Principe took the resulting free kick but his powerful strike cannoned off the wall (14). A minute later Kuzmanovic worked his way into a promising position on the byline and fizzed a cross-shot through the six-yard box without finding a Nerazzurri shirt.
Shortly after another long-range attempt by the enterprising Da Silva had been smothered by Carrizo (22), Milito was presented with a gilt-edged opportunity to open the scoring from inside the six-yard box, only for Russo to thwart him with a smart reflex save (26).
That was the cue for a further trio of chances for Milito in rapid succession. Picked out by Jonathan's low cross in the 27th minute, he showed a neat first touch before scuffing his effort wide of the upright. 60 seconds later Ventre showed off his distribution skills with a delightful ball into the path of El Principe, who delayed his shot as he entered the box, allowing a couple of yellow shirts to crowd him out. Kuzmanovic then served up another opportunity for Milito on the six-yard line, the striker miscuing his finish this time (29).
SECOND HALF – The second period was not even a minute old when Lugano took the lead, Tosetti cutting inside from the right and firing left-footed with the help of a slight deflection past Castellazzi, who had barely had the time to put his gloves on.
18-year-old midfielder Andrea Mira curled a free kick over the bar in the 40th minute before Samuel also went close with a header.
Ten minutes into the half Lugano were awarded a penalty as Wallace floored a Lugano player with a rash challenge. Fortunately though, Castellazzi was in inspired form, dropping low to his left to scoop Santillo's spot kick away before immediately coming to the rescue again following a defensive mix-up (46).
The veteran shotstopper was helpless to prevent Santillo from doubling the visitors' lead two minutes later however, when right-back Tosetti's pinpoint delivery allowed the striker to nod home from a few yards out.
Milito started sharpening his shooting boots again in the 54th minute with a long-range effort that missed the target, but four minutes later he finally drew a huge roar from the crowd by getting the goal everyone wanted. Kuzmanovic wriggled free from the attentions of two defenders near the right-hand corner flag and found Wallace, who squared the ball for Milito just inside the penalty box: the frontman stopped the ball before hitting a perfectly placed shot into the top corner on the turn (58).
Around the hour mark Wallace spotted the keeper off his line and attempted an audacious lob from inside his own half, which sadly dropped just over the bar. Inter did find an equaliser a minute later though, when Kuzmanovic collected Ventre's pass, carried the ball forward and unleashed a rocket from the right-hand corner of the penalty box which flew into the opposite top corner.
The Serbian midfielder might have followed it up with the winner in the 76th minute, but couldn't keep his shot down at the end of a patient Nerazzurri build-up. Meanwhile Cassaniga reminded Mazzarri's men that the visitors hadn't gone home just yet when he fizzed an effort just wide from out on the left.
Two minutes of added time were signalled, enough for two more chances for Inter. First Wallace, having played a one-two with substitute Colombi and burst down the right flank, was stopped in his tracks by Badalli making a prodigious rush off his line. Then another sprint down the wing saw the Brazilian right-back tee up Milito in the centre of the box, the striker flicking his shot on the turn over the bar.
Inter 2-2 Lugano (35 minutes per half)
Scorers: Tosetti 36, Santillo 48, Milito 58, Kuzmanovic 61.
Inter:
30 Carrizo (12 Castellazzi, 36); 35 Rolando, 25 Samuel, 6 Andreolli (14 Longo, 48); 2
Jonathan (5 Juan Jesus, 36), 21 Mira (13 Tassi, 43), 19 Cambiasso, 17 Kuzmanovic, 18 Wallace; 7
Ventre (9 Colombi, 65), 22 Milito.
Unused subs: 8
Bigotto, 11 Palazzi, 23 Yao.
Coach:
Walter Mazzarri.
Lugano, 1st half:
30 Russo; 22 Maffi, 4 Forzano, 8 Basic, 25
Schlauri; 10 Bottani, 19 Rey, 16 Aegerter, 14 Sabbatini; 21 Da Silva,
11 Armando.
Lugano, 2nd half: 18 Badalli; 17 Tosetti, 3
Skoric, 6 Urbano, 26 Cazzaniga, 20 Blattner (13 Toure, 56), 5
Guimaraes, 23 Garcia (15 Quadri, 65), 7 Shalaj,
9 Dubajic, 24 Santillo (Bebeto, 65).
Coach:
Sandro Salvioni.
Referee: Cristian Brasi (Seregno).
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