MILAN - A proud comeback. Kovacic scored a wonder goal and Palacio confirmed his status as Lazio's bête noire. The Nerazzurri came back thanks to the crowd, their determination and character. Inter might even have won it late on. What a match!
On a chilly night in Milan with more than 35,000 packed into the Meazza, the crowd had barely warmed up by the time Lazio took the lead. Felipe Anderson received the ball on the left, got half a yard with a great first touch and drilled it past Handanovic. Inter struggled to respond early on. On 6 minutes Ledesma's ball over the top caught the head of Juan Jesus and dropped for Felipe Anderson to volley. This time he missed the target however.
The Nerazzurri pressed higher with Nagatomo crossing for Icardi, who was denied at the last moment by De Vrij. Moments later Marchetti got down well to save from Guarin. Mancini's men stepped up a gear with a nice give-and-go between Kovacic and Nagatomo resulting in a corner. Guarin once again attempted a shot from distance but couldn't find the target. Just when it looked like Inter were close to an equaliser, Lazio struck again on the break. Felipe Anderson took the ball from his own half, strode past Juan Jesus into the box and wrongfooted Handanovic at his near post. The visitors went into the break leading 2-0.
Inter reacted brilliantly in the second period. There was more thrust from the hosts right from the outset. Lazio seem to bring out the best in Palacio (seven goals in nine matches against the Biancocelesti for the Argentine). Kovacic deserves credit for providing more service to the front men and getting forward more. Just before the hour mark the Croatian got to the by-line and cut back for Icardi who shot wide from the heart of the penalty area. A minute later Inter produced a similar move albeit with different personnel. Palacio found Kuzmanovic who was denied by a smart stop from Marchetti.
The Nerazzurri halved the deficit midway through the second period. The ball dropped invitingly to Kovacic on the edge of the area and he dispatched a volley into the back of the net. The goal brought the crowd to life and Inter poured forward in search of another. Bonazzoli came on for Guarin and the youngster played a key role in the equaliser. His teasing free-kick was met by the head of D'Ambrosio and the ball fell kindly to Palacio to tuck home. El Trenza bagged his first goal of the season against the same side his last one came against. The momentum then swung the way of the Nerazzurri. One minute from time Campagnaro, on as a substitute, fired a cross along the six-yard line: no one was there to tap it home however and Mr. Tagliavento blew the final whistle with the score Inter 2-2 Lazio.
Inter 1 Handanovic; 33 D'Ambrosio (Campagnaro 90+1), 23 Ranocchia, 5 Juan Jesus, 55 Nagatomo; 13 Guarin (Bonazzoli 75), 10 Kovacic, 17 Kuzmanovic, 22 Dodo (Medel 45); 9 Icardi, 8 Palacio.
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LE PAROLE DI ROBERTO MANCINI POST INTER LAZIO
