MILAN – Inter’s tenth league game of the season ended in victory, as the Nerazzurri ran out 2-1 winners over Torino.
Frank de Boer opted for a 4-3-3 formation for the midweek game, with Ever Banega, Joao Mario and Marcelo Brozovic occupying the midfield roles. Inter’s attack was the same as that which played away at Atalanta, while Yuto Nagatomo and Cristian Ansaldi played as full-backs.
Inter began the match on the front foot and, within a few seconds, Joao Mario played in Antonio Candreva; however, the Nerazzurri wide man was beaten to the ball by Torino goalkeeper Joe Hart.
The home side’s first shot on goal came after 3 minutes, Joao Mario shooting just wide of the mark. Torino hit back through Iago Falque, who on 7 minutes looked to trouble Handanovic with a cross-cum-shot, but the Inter keeper dealt with it calmly.
After 11 minutes the Nerazzurri produced a nice bit of play; Eder linked up well with Candreva, who fired towards goal on the run, but his finish ended up in the side netting. Around 9 minutes later, Eder tried his luck from just over 20 yards out, having been found by Brozovic. The forward did well to control the ball on the move, but his right-foot shot was just wide.
Joao Mario, who was constantly involved in Inter’s attacking play, won the ball in the final third of the pitch on 25 minutes; he passed to Brozovic who then played in the on-running Eder, but he was unable to find the target with his effort.
Inter took the lead with around 10 minutes of the first half to play, after an error from the Torino keeper. Candreva played in Icardi, who did well to stay onside and saw the ball bounce off him and into the net as Hart tried to block.
The Inter captain was presented with another chance after 42 minutes; he was set up by Brozovic and found himself one-on-one with Moretti, however his left-foot strike was rushed and went off target. The last action of the first half saw Adem Ljajic hit a free-kick from over 20 yards, but it failed to trouble the keeper.
Toro coach Sinisa Mihajlovic made a change to his side to start the second half, with Maxi Lopez replacing Iago Falque.
Within 5 minutes of the restart, Brozovic found space for a shot on the edge of the area, but his effort brushed Hart’s right-hand post. De Boer’s men kept up the pressure and created two good chances in as many minutes. Firstly, Icardi was a whisker away from making meaningful contact on a Candreva cross, before Eder combined with Joao Mario, worrying the Granata defence.
The visitors brought Marco Benassi into the fray just before the hour mark, with the scores still at 1-0. Banega came close soon after with a right-footed effort, before two quick-fire opportunies went begging for the hosts. Handanovic released Icardi, who teed up Brozovic for a one-on-one with Hart; the Croatian’s attempt was saved and the rebounding header went over the bar.
Torino equalised after 63 minutes and, once again, it was the result of a defensive mishap. Two Inter defenders got in each other’s way and Andrea Belotti rifled a finish past Handanovic to make the scores 1-1.
Brozovic had a fantastic opportunity to re-take the lead for Inter, but his header from little more than a yard was blocked by Moretti. Another chance came on 72 minutes, when Banega, Joao Mario and Icardi played successive passes, ultimately reaching Candreva who shot too close to the middle of the goal. Candreva had a headed opportunity one minute later, set up by Banega, but he couldn’t direct it goalward.
As the match drew to a close, Moretti saved his side once again. He threw himself in front of Icardi, who looked certain to score, and managed to block. Torino hit back through Valdifiori, but his shot from distance failed to worry the Inter keeper.
It was Icardi who eventually raised the roof off the San Siro, with just two minutes to play. The Argentine took the ball on the edge of the area, with his back to goal, but he managed to turn quickly and fire a shot which arrowed into the top corner to put Inter 2-1 ahead.
Torino won a corner in the dying moments of the game and even Hart joined the attack, but the Inter captain was on hand to clear the ball away and secure the win.
INTER 2-1 TORINO (HT: 1-0)
Scorers: Icardi (36, 88); Belotti (63).
INTER: 1 Handanovic; 15 Ansaldi, 25 Miranda, 24 Murillo, 55 Nagatomo; 77 Brozovic, 6 Joao Mario, 19 Banega; 87 Candreva, 9 Icardi, 23 Eder (Palacio 74).
Subs not used: 30 Carrizo, 2 Andreolli, 10 Jovetic, 13 Ranocchia, 21 Santon, 27 Gnoukouri, 33 D'Ambrosio, 44 Perisic, 94 Yao, 95 Miangue, 96 Barbosa.
Coach: Frank de Boer.
TORINO: 21 Hart; 7 Zappacosta, 13 Rossettini, 24 Moretti, 23 Barreca; 6 Acquah (Benassi 59), 18 Valdifiori, 22 Obi (Baselli 75); 14 Iago Falque (Maxi Lopez 46), 9 Belotti, 10 Ljajic.
Subs not used: 1 Padelli, 90 Cucchietti, 5 Bovo, 17 Martinez, 20 Vives, 25 Lukic, 29 De Silvestri, 31 Boyé, 93 Ajeti.
Coach: Sinisa Mihajlovic.
Yellow cards: Valdifiori 28, Maxi Lopez 80, Benassi 89, Belotti 92.
Added time: 2 + 3 minutes.
Referee: Massa.
Assistants: Vuoto, Fiorito.
Fourth official: Alassio.
Additional assistants: Tagliavento, Irrati.
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