MILAN – Inter Primavera suffered a home defeat at the hands of Cagliari this afternoon as the visitors came from a goal down then held on against a late Nerazzurri onslaught to win 3-2 at the Centro Sportivo Giacinto Facchetti.
Peruvian striker Andy Polo marked his full debut by scoring the opener with a quarter of an hour on the clock, pouncing on a loose ball in the box. Cerrone's Under-19s controlled first-half proceedings but were unable to double their lead.
Cagliari then made the perfect start to the second period when Masia sent Maniero the wrong way from the spot in the 50th minute, after a rather generous penalty was awarded. The goal galvanised the visitors and seemed to stun Inter: within minutes Demontis had made it 1-2 as Eguelfi and Sciacca were slow to react. A wretched seven-minute spell was completed when Maniero fumbled a cross, offering Scintu the chance to add an easy third.
Inter never really looked like getting themselves back in the contest until Muroni handballed in the box: Bonazzoli provided hope by making it 3-2 from 12 yards. Polo and Capello went close in the dying minutes but there was to be no late equaliser.
That's two defeats on the bounce now for Cerrone's young charges. They need to turn things around quickly and what better occasion is there to rise to than a Milanese Derby? AC Milan v Inter is scheduled for an 11:00 kick-off next Sunday.
Inter 2-3 Cagliari (HT 1-0)
Scorers: Polo 15, Masia 50 (pen), Demontis 53, Scintu 56, Bonazzoli 79 (pen).
Inter: Maniero; Longo (Yao 79), Sciacca, Pinton, Eguelfi; Dabo, Palazzi, Knudsen (Bonazzoli 55), Camara, Puscas (Capello 74), Polo.
Subs not used: Ivusic, Dalla Riva, Gaiola, Baldini, Ventre, Mira, Bigotto, Costa.
Coach: Salvatore Cerrone.
Cagliari: Carboni; Demontis, Russu, Barella, Cappai, Scintu, Muroni, Deiola, Cardia (Solinas 79), Masia (Cordeddu 84), Loi.
Subs not used: Fadda, Saia, Suella.
Coach: Vittorio Pusceddu.
Referee: Zanonato.
Assistants: Lombardi, Sgheiz.
Added time: 1+4 minutes.
Booked: Pinton.
