CROTONE – Mission accomplished. Luciano Spalletti’s Inter return from Calabria with the three points. The record for the season remains perfect after four matches thanks to a hard-fought 2-0 win away at Crotone via late goals from Milan Skriniar and Ivan Perisic.
The match began after the minute’s silence organised by the FIGC in memory of the victims of the floods which hit Livorno in recent days. The first chance came in the ninth minute with Tonev’s right-foot effort forcing Handanovic into action. Four minutes later, Inter were dangerous with Perisic who cut in from the right to fire with his left but Cordaz made the save in the middle of his goal. Straight after, Budimir forced Handanovic into making a save at the expense of a corner with a powerful effort from outside the box. The best chance of the first half came in the 29th minute. Borja Valero won the ball in the midfielder and played it out to Perisic on the left who set up Joao Mario who fired narrowly wide. Crotone were giving a good account of themselves as Martella threatened the Nerazzurri’s goal from 20 metres in the 42nd minute before the teams went into the break with the scores goalless.
There were no changes as the sides came out for the second half. Crotone looked dangerous once more after 51 minutes as Handanovic came off his line to keep out Tonev. The Inter goalkeeper made another incredible decisive stop in the 68th minute to save from a Rohden header. Inter started to pose more of a threat in attack with a Candreva effort that was saved by Cordaz. In the 78th minute, Skriniar showed good timing to snuff out a dangerous Crotone counterattack and it was the Slovakian defender who scored the opener four minutes later. He got a foot on it as the ball bounced around the area to put Inter ahead. At the end, there were seven minutes of stoppage time as Inter kept things under control. The second goal came on the break as Perisic received the ball from Joao Mario, he beat Faraoni before slotting past Cordaz with a low shot.
Inter wrapped up their fourth win from four games and attention now turns towards the match with Bologna on Tuesday evening.
CROTONE 0-2 INTER
Scorers: 82' Skriniar, 92' Perisic
CROTONE: 1 Cordaz; 31 Sampirisi, 93 Ajeti (66' 44 Cabrera), 7 Ceccherini (85' 32 Tumminello), 87 Martella; 6 Rohden (72' 37 Faraoni), 10 Barberis, 38 Mandragora, 5 Stoian; 17 Budimir, 24 Tonev
Bench: 3 Festa, 78 Viscovo, 8 Aristoteles, 11 Kragl, 13 Izco, 20 Pavlovic, 29 Trotta, 34 Simic, 89 Crociata
Coach: Davide Nicola
INTER: 1 Handanovic; 33 D'Ambrosio (85' 13 Ranocchia), 37 Skriniar, 25 Miranda, 29 Dalbert (64' 55 Nagatomo); 5 Gagliardini (56' 11 Vecino), 20 B. Valero; 87 Candreva, 10 J. Mario, 44 Perisic; 9 Icardi
Bench: 27 Padelli, 46 Berni, , 17 Karamoh, 23 Eder, 61 Vanheusden, 77 Brozovic, 99 Pinamonti
Coach: Luciano Spalletti
Bookings: 40' Miranda (I), 82' Cordaz (C), 91' Candreva (I)
Stoppage time: 1' + 7'
Referee: Banti
Assistant Referees: Dobosz, Giallatini
Fourth Official: Pezzuto
VAR Operators: Damato, Marini
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