SINGAPORE – Inter ended their summer tour of Asia with another convincing display and a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Singapore National Stadium.
Steven Jovetic's penalty in first-half stoppage time and a fine finish from Ivan Perisic shortly after the restart ensured victory for Luciano Spalletti's men, despite Geoffrey Kondogbia's own goal.
The result, following Thursday's 2-0 defeat of Bayern Munich, means the Nerazzurri win the International Champions Cup Singpore 2017 and return to Italy undefeated, having previously drawn with Schalke 04 and beaten Lyon in China.
Inter made a lively start to the game as Antonio Candreva forced Thibaut Courtois into making the first save with just two minutes on the clock, before Jovetic and Roberto Gagliardini saw follow-up efforts repelled by the Chelsea rearguard.
Four minutes later Gagliardini chested down 20 yards from goal only to slam his finish wide of the upright.
Chelsea began to grow into the game and shortly before the half-hour mark Willian's firm strike was deflected onto the roof of the net.
The move that led to the opening goal came in the second of four minutes of added time. Borja Valero dinked a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Jovetic, who controlled it with his chest and went down following a challenge by Cesar Azpilicueta. The referee pointed to the spot.
Jovetic dusted himself down and stepped up to take but Courtois got a hand to it. The Montenegrin pounced on the rebound and steered home to give Inter the lead.
Neither coach made any changes during the interval and the Nerazzurri again came racing out of the blocks, Jovetic tucking the ball into the net just 11 seconds after the restart; this time, however, it was ruled out for offside.
After Michy Batshuayi had dragged a good opportunity wide, Jovetic was involved again when Inter did double their lead in the 53rd minute. The No.8 slid a pass forward for Perisic, the Croat accelerated into the box and angled a tidy finish past Courtois.
Perisic almost turned provider for a third Inter goal eight minutes later as he raced onto Joao Mario's through ball before slamming on the brakes and rolling it into the Portuguese's path. The Nerazzurri No.10 fired down the middle and Courtois got a foot to it.
Inter's lead was halved with 15 minutes remaining when Kondogbia's overcooked back-pass sailed over Daniele Padelli's head and into the top corner.
Chelsea pressed forward looking for an equaliser but Inter held on to secure another three points and claim the ICC Singapore trophy.
Chelsea 1-2 Inter (HT 0-2)
Scorers: Jovetic 45+3, Perisic 53, Kondogbia OG 75.
Chelsea: 13 Courtois; 28 Azpilicueta (31 Tomori 86), 30 David Luiz, 24 Cahill (36 Scott 86); 15 Moses (35 Clarke-Salter 86), 7 Kante (40 Cuevas 86), 4 Fabregas (39 Pasalic 86), 3 Alonso (2 Rudiger 53); 22 Willian (17 Musonda 65), 23 Batshuayi (18 Remy 86), 9 Morata (38 Boga 65).
Subs not used: 1 Caballero, 27 Christensen, 33 Bulka, 34 Baker, 37 Eduardo.
Coach: Antonio Conte.
Inter: 27 Padelli; 33 D'Ambrosio (13 Ranocchia 90+2), 37 Skriniar, 25 Miranda (24 Murillo 71), 55 Nagatomo (15 Ansaldi 71); 5 Gagliardini, 20 Borja Valero (31 Valietti 77); 87 Candreva (7 Kondogbia 58), 77 Brozovic (96 Barbosa 71), 44 Perisic (23 Eder 71); 8 Jovetic (10 Joao Mario 58).
Subs not used: 1 Handanovic, 46 Berni, 89 Pissardo, 59 Emmers, 61 Vanheusden, 63 Rivas, 99 Pinamonti.
Coach: Luciano Spalletti.
Added time: 4 + 5 minutes.
Referee: Sukhbir Singh.
Assistants: Lim Kok Heng, Ong Chai Lee.
Fourth official: Ahmad A'Qashah.
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