MILAN – A frustrating evening saw the Nerazzurri beaten 0-1 by Fiorentina at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza tonight. In a largely even contest, it was Viola man Mohamed Salah who scored the decisive goal in the 56th minute of the match.
The visitors created the first chance of the encounter, with Diamanti’s free-kick drawing a punch from Handanovic. Montella’s side again threatened on 17 minutes, with Pasqual whipping in a low cross for Babacar. The young Senegalese got the slightest of touches, but Handanovic was there again to gather the ball.
Inter jolted into life in the 20th minute. Guarin burst down the right, firing a low cross into the danger zone, but Rodriguez just managed to hack it away to safety. The Colombian was behind the Nerazzurri’s next chance, and it was so nearly a repeat of his heroics against Celtic as he watched a right-footed scorcher cannon off the upright.
Fiorentina continue to trouble Inter after the half-time break – which saw Stefano Vecchi’s Primavera receive rapturous applause from the San Siro faithful in recognition of their Viareggio Cup win – and were ahead within 11 minutes. Pasqual swung another cross in from the left, but Handanovic could only parry to the waiting Salah. The Egyptian coolly slotted home to give his side the lead.
The Nerazzurri looked to respond and had a decent shout for a penalty after Icardi was upended in the box on 59 minutes. The referee waved play on, and Guarin’s follow-up was saved by Neto. Inter were pushing hard for an equaliser, and nearly got it when Brozovic, Guarin and Shaqiri combined to set up Icardi, only for the Argentine to shoot over from a good position.
With the Viola dropping off, Palacio had a great chance to even the scores in the 83rd minute, but saw his shot saved again by Neto when the onrushing Icardi would’ve had the goal at his mercy. In the first minute of stoppage time, Palacio looked to have fired a bullet header into the net, but the inspired Neto got his fingertips to it to save a certain goal.
INTER 0-1 FIORENTINA (HT: 0-0)
Scorers: Salah 56.
INTER: 1 Handanovic; 14 Campagnaro, 15 Vidic, 5 Juan Jesus, 21 Santon (D'Ambrosio 78); 13 Guarin, 18 Medel, 77 Brozovic; 10 Kovacic (Palacio 72); 9 Icardi, 11 Podolski (Shaqiri 65).
Subs not used: 30 Carrizo, 6 Andreolli, 17 Kuzmanovic, 20 Obi, 22 Dodo, 23 Ranocchia, 26 Felipe, 28 Puscas, 33 D'Ambrosio, 88 Hernanes.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.
FIORENTINA: 1 Neto; 40 Tomovic, 15 Savic, 2 Rodriguez, 23 Pasqual; 16 Kurtic, 5 Badelj, 10 Aquilani (Vargas 81); 18 Diamanti (Joaquin 72), 30 Babacar (Salah 43); 72 Ilicic.
Subs not used: 31 Rosati, 24 Lezzerini, 4 Richards, 7 Pizarro, 9 Gilardino, 20 Borja Valero, 28 Alonso, 32 Lazzari, 38 Rosi.
Coach: Vincenzo Montella.
Booked: Aquilani 26, Vidic 59, Juan Jesus 52, Diamanti 69, Brozovic 85.
Added time: 1 + 6 mins.
Referee: Massa.
Assistants: Vuoto, Preti.
Fourth official: Ranghetti.
Additional assistants: Di Bello, Candussio.
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