LECCO – A sold-out Stadio Rigamonti-Ceppi saw Lecco inflict a narrow 2-1 defeat on Inter this evening thanks to first-half goals from Joelson and Cardinio.
Roberto Mancini experimented with a back three of D’Ambrosio, Santon and Juan Jesus in front of Carrizo, with a five-man midfield of Montoya, Guarin, Melo, Gnoukouri and Telles providing support for Baldini and Palacio up front.
There was an early blow for Inter, however, as Joelson scored with a diving header past Carrizo after a wicked Cardinio cross in just the third minute of the match. The Nerazzurri looked to react immediately and had the ball in the net two minutes later courtesy of Guarin, but it was chalked off for offside.
Yet there was to be further frustration for Mancini’s side as Cardinio stooped to head home Ronchi’s cross for 2-0 on 20 minutes. The goal served to spur Inter on, and they came close to pulling one back before the break as first Palacio and then Telles set the Stadio Rigamonti-Ceppi’s nerves jangling.
Mancini brought Berni and Appiah on for Carrizo and Santon at half-time, switching to a 4-3-3 formation. The changes saw the Nerazzurri take full control of the match, without managing to strike the telling blow. Felipe Melo gave an assured display in midfield, coming close to pulling one back before taking his leave to the applause of the crowd.
De La Fuente did make it 2-1 in the final minute of the game, but it proved to be the last action of the night as the referee blew his whistle for full-time soon afterwards.
LECCO 2-1 INTER (HT: 2-0)
Scorers: Joelson 3, Cardinio 20, De La Fuente 90.
LECCO: Lazzarini; Ronchi, De Angeli, Pergreffi, Bugno; Vignali, Baldo; Joelson, Crotti, Cardinio; França.
Subs: Serughetti, Redaelli, Rigoni, Meyergue, Barzaghi, Colombo, Romano, Ramadan.
Coach: Sergio Zanetti.
INTER: Carrizo (Berni HT); D'Ambrosio, Santon (Appiah HT), Juan Jesus (Garvillon 72); Montoya, Guarin, Melo (Tchaoule 72), Gnoukouri (Mitta 57), Telles; Baldini, Palacio (De La Fuente 67).
Subs not used: Donnarumma, Granziera, Gyamfi, Carraro.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.
Referee: Maggioni.
Assistants: Zinzi, Ceravolo.
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