SESTO SAN GIOVANNI - Stefano Vecchi’s Inter picked up their third straight win in the rearranged fixture from matchday 22 against Genoa to go top of Primavera 1 TIM. Goals from Rover and Merola proved decisive at the Stadio Breda.
The away side showed aggression at the start but the first real chance was for Inter on seven minutes when Merola wasn’t able to head home from a Sala cross. The Nerazzurri’s opening goal followed after 15 minutes when a Pompetti corner on the right allowed Rover to find the net with a side-foot finish on his 39th appearance of the season.
The Rossoblu looked to respond through Oprut but Pissardo saved well and Zanimacchia fired over from the edge of the area. The match was then close but Vecchi’s side were dangerous once more ahead of the break with Zappa hitting the side netting with a volley before two chances fell to Zaniolo but he wasn’t able to beat Rollandi.
At the start of the second half, both sides were throwing blows. Zaniolo was denied by the Genoa defence from a good position, Zanimacchia then called Pissardo into action with a powerful strike from the edge of the box. Inter were looking to double the lead and did so halfway through the half thanks to some spectacular play by Merola. The forward born in 2000 beat two defenders at the edge of the area before putting the ball past Rollandi at his near post.
In the final 15 minutes, Zaniolo had more chances and Genoa went close to halving the deficit through Oprut but the scoreline didn’t change and the final whistle was blown. Inter move up to 50 points in the table after brilliantly navigating another obstacle in the race for the Final Four.
INTER 2-0 GENOA
Goals: 14' Rover, 67’ Merola
INTER: 1 Pissardo; 4 Bettella, 5 Nolan, 3 Rizzo; 2 Zappa, 11 Gavioli (80’ Brignoli 17), 8 Pompetti, 10 Zaniolo, 6 Sala; 7 Rover (69’ Colidio 22), 9 Merola (85’ D'Amico 20).
Bench: 12 Dekic, 13 Valietti, 14 Corrado, 15 Schirò, 16 Rada, 18 Danso, 19 Emmers, 21 Adorante, 23 Vergani.
Coach: Stefano Vecchi
GENOA: 1 Rollandi; 2 Tazzer (74’ Piccardo 14), 5 Zanoli, 4 Altare, 3 Oprut; 7 Candela, 6 Sibilia, 8 Trabacca (74’ Seno 13); 9 Salcedo (78’ Romairone 20), 10 Zanimacchia, 11 Micovschi.
Bench: 12 Bulgarelli, 15 Pedersen, 16 Silvestri, 17 Odasso, 18 Gibilterra, 19 Bruzzo, 21 Zito.
Coach: Carlo Sabatini
Bookings: Pompetti (70), Bettella (90’)
Stoppage Time: 0' - 3'
Referee: Daniele Paterna
Assistants: Manara and Ceccon.
