CROTONE – In their 31st Serie A fixture of the season, the Nerazzurri were looking to bounce back after their home defeat against Sampdoria.
With Roberto Gagliardini missing through injury, Stefano Pioli picked Jeison Murillo in the centre of defence and moved Gary Medel into midfield.
Crotone were pushed on by their home support at the Stadio Ezio Scida and they took the lead within the first 20 minutes. Geoffrey Kondogbia lost the ball in his own half, under intense pressure from the home team. Diego Falcinelli picked it up and dribbled into the box where Gary Medel, in an attempt to make a sliding challenge, appeared to touch the ball with his arm.
The referee wasted no time pointing to the spot and it was Falcinelli who stepped up and stuck the penalty away, low to the left of Samir Handanovic. The Inter keeper went the right way but the spot kick was well-struck into the corner.
The hosts doubled their lead just minutes later. Marcello Trotta received the ball just inside the Inter half and played it forward to Falcinelli, launching a swift counter attack. The striker latched onto the ball, sped into the box from the left, and lifted a composed finish over Handanovic to make it 2-0.
Despite being rattled by the quick-fire double the visitors kept hold of the ball well, but were faced with a well-organised side, unwilling to give up any space. Ever Banega struck one of the Nerazzurri’s few first-half efforts on goal, but it wasn’t enough to trouble Alex Cordaz, while Ivan Perisic sent in a whipping cross from the right but nobody could apply the decisive touch.
Crotone remained a threat on the counter attack. Bruno Martella missed two presentable chances in quick succession, before Marcus Rohden saw a certain goal blocked by Miranda, the Brazilian stopping the ball with his chest.
At the start of the second period Pioli made two changes, shifting to a more attacking formation. Eder and Rodrigo Palacio entered the fray in place of Jeison Murillo and Cristian Ansaldi.
Kondogbia was presented with a glorious opportunity just after the one-hour mark. He managed to get on the end of Antonio Candreva’s corner but headed over from just yards out.
Inter eventually managed to half the deficit. Danilo D’Ambrosio was in the right place to tap home from inside the six-yard area, after Banega’s corner was headed forwards by Kondogbia.
The visitors were determined in their pursuit of a leveller. Candreva tested Cordaz with a shot on the turn, having been set up by Icardi. The Inter captain teed up Eder soon after with some strong play with his back to goal. The substitute struck a fierce shot from outside the area but his right-foot drive cannoned back off the post.
Eder was involved again soon after, playing in Palacio who fired a powerful right-foot shot that Cordaz could only punch.
Pioli’s final change came in the form of Joao Mario, who replaced Kondogbia, and the Nerazzurri continued to press for an equaliser. They were almost caught out on the break when Boadu Acosty broke forward but his effort forced Handanovic into a great save.
During the six minutes of stoppage time Candreva, D’Ambrosio and Miranda were each thwarted in their attempts to equalise, while the final chance of the game was a free kick struck by Joao Mario but his effort was off target.
The Ezio Scida erupted when the final whistle was blown, as Inter slumped to a second straight league defeat. All eyes are now on the Milan derby on Saturday at the San Siro.
CROTONE 2-1 INTER
Scorers: Falcinelli pen. 19, 22, D’Ambrosio 65.
CROTONE: 1 Cordaz; 22 Rosi, 17 Ceccherini, 13 Ferrari, 87 Martella; 6 Rohden (Sampirisi 67), 18 Barberis (Capezzi 75), 8 Crisetig, 12 Stoian; 29 Trotta (Acosty 63), 11 Falcinelli.
Subs not used: 5 Festa, 33 Viscovo, 3 Dos Santos, 9 Nalini, 15 Mesbah, 20 Kotnik, 23 Dussenne, 42 Suljic, 99 Simy.
Coach: Davide Nicola.
INTER: 1 Handanovic; 33 D'Ambrosio, 24 Murillo (Palacio HT), 25 Miranda, 15 Ansaldi (Eder HT); 17 Medel, 7 Kondogbia (Joao Mario 81); 87 Candreva, 19 Banega, 44 Perisic; 9 Icardi.
Subs not used: 30 Carrizo, 2 Andreolli, 11 Biabiany, 20 Sainsbury, 21 Santon, 55 Nagatomo, 77 Brozovic, 96 Barbosa.
Coach: Stefano Pioli.
Yellow cards: Martella 46, Palacio 46, Ceccherini 47, Banega 52, Acosty 90, Capezzi 90+8.
Added time: 3 + 6 minutes.
Referee: Guida.
Assistants: Marzaloni, Marrazzo.
Fourth official: Carbone.
Additional assistants: Doveri, Nasca.
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