ZINGONIA – This fixture bore all the hallmarks of a mission impossible. Inter Primavera travelled to championship leaders Atalanta this afternoon, a side that has dominated Group B this season: unbeaten all year, a 100% home record and a near water-tight defence. Inter, on the other hand, have been inconsistent to say the least in the last month, having ended 2013 on a high. And yet Salvatore Cerrone's lads pulled off a master stroke to win 3-2 and get their season right back on track.
The Nerazzurri Under-19s came racing out the starting blocks and took the lead with just eight minutes on the clock, Savi putting past his own keeper in an attempt to keep Bonazzoli at bay. It became 2-0 shortly before half time when Sciacca played a fine ball to release Camara on the break and the Guinean winger cut in from the right before arrowing his finish beyond Miori.
Two-nil at the interval but the hosts were in no mood for being turned over on their own patch and they came out in the second half and proceeded to show exactly why they're top of the table. Inter keeper Ivusic had to be on his toes on a number of occasions and managed to keep the home crowd quiet until the 71st minute, when Varano reduced the arrears. Atalanta upped the tempo and tensions rose. Ivusic pulled off a wonder save to deny Grassi's audacious lob from the middle of the park but could do nothing when Caldara netted a second at the far post to square things up. At that point you might have expected Atalanta to power on and complete the comeback but instead Eguelfi teased out some space on the left and delivered for substitute Puscas to finish from close range with two minutes left to play. Tempers frayed in the final minutes and Lumetta saw red in added time as Cerrone's lads ended the game on the attack.
It was a superb Nerazzurri performance against a great opponent and this win will provide a fillip as they battle with Chievo and AC Milan for second place, which grants direct access to the Final Eight. Next weekend Inter host Udinese.
Atalanta 2-3 Inter (HT: 0-2)
Scorers: Savi 8 (o.g.), Camara 40, Varano 71, Caldara 83, Puscas 88.
Atalanta: Miori; Pugliese, Savi (Kecskes 90), Caldara, Barba; Grassi, Cavagna, Olausson; Tulissi (Ungaro 67), Parigi (Lunetta 60), Varano.
Subs not used: Merelli, Zanoni, Messina, Marchini, Ronzoni, Pasini, Forgas, Pilenga.
Coach: Valter Bonacina.
Inter: Ivusic; Yao, Sciacca, Pinton, Eguelfi; Knudsen (Dabo 90), Palazzi, Acampora; Camara, Bonazzoli (Puscas 75), Mira (Ventre 20).
Subs not used:
Maniero, Dalla Riva, Piacentini, Gaiola, Capello, Bigotto, Costa, Polo.
Coach: Salvatore Cerrone.
Referee: Marinelli (Tivoli).
Assistants: Novellino, Loni.
Booked: Olausson, Yao, Savi, Bonazzoli, Tulissi, Grassi.
Sent off: Lunetta 90+1.
Added time: 1 + 4 minutes.
