MILAN - Inter gave their all on Saturday evening but were ultimately defeated 2-1 by Sassuolo at San Siro during their matchday 37 fixture in Serie A TIM. This result now leaves the Nerazzurri two points behind Lazio, who’ll tomorrow face Crotone at the Stadio Ezio Scida. Should the Biancocelesti fail to pick up three points, then Luciano Spalletti’s side can still secure fourth should they triumph in Rome on May 20th.
Saturday’s match was played out in front of 70,000 spectators at San Siro, who once again turned out in force, for what was the Nerazzurri’s final home game of the season. Already safe from relegation and without any problems in the league standings, Sassuolo started the game in positive fashion and forced a save from Handanovic in the fourth minute through Missiroli. Inter then hit back in the 12th minute, with Consigli keeping out Candreva. Duncan found space on the left just two minutes later, although the Ghanian failed to find the target.
On what was his 100th appearance in Serie A TIM, Brozovic brought down Adjapong on the edge of the area in the 23rd minute and duly received a booking. Politano stepped up to take the free-kick moments later, putting Sassuolo ahead by firing his set-piece under the wall. Spalletti’s side then responded in the 31st minute, with Consigli turning an effort from Brozovic out for a corner. A scare soon followed, although Handanovic successfully kept out a 33rd minute shot from Berardi. At this point, Inter began to pick up the pace. Icardi struck a shot badly in the 34th minute, while Consigli then kept out both Rafinha and Candreva in quick succession. Icardi found the back of the net in the 42nd minute following a fine ball from Brozovic, although the goal was disallowed for offside. The Nerazzurri captain then missed a great chance just before half-time, with Sassuolo entering the break 1-0 up.
The teams came back out after the break with the same line-ups that finished the first half, with several chances straight away. Firstly, in the 48th minute, Adjapong had to make a last-ditch challenge on Candreva in the area and then Berardi forced a good one-handed stop from Handanovic on the counter-attack. The Slovenian goalkeeper was called on again in the 50th minute when he saved well from Duncan's powerful effort. The rebound fell to Berardi but the forward could not get a shot away and Inter survived. A minute later, Inter were back on the attack with Brozovic slipping a pass to Rafinha but the Brazilian's effort came back off the body of Consigli.
Spalletti made his move and sent on Karamoh in place of Candreva in the 57th minute. Moments later, Lemos got a toe on the ball to just beat Icardi to a cross when the forward was ready to head home from close range.
On 70', there was another big chance for Icardi: Adjapong tackled Perisic in the area and inadvertently diverted the ball to the Argentine whose finish was blocked again by Consigli. Then, incredibly, Sassuolo doubled their lead in the 72nd minute thanks to a powerful right-footed strike from Berardi which found the top corner from the edge of the area. Inter could be proud of their reaction. On 80', Rafinha pulled a goal back with a low shot from the edge of the box that hit the post and squirmed in. The contest came alive and Eder – who had come on for Vecino in the meantime – brought the best out of Icardi, who had another shot blocked, this time by the body of Lemos.
The Sassuolo goal was under siege during the final minutes. Three minutes from the end, Eder shot from inside the box but it was again blocked by a defender. The referee indicated six minutes of injury time and there were two great chances in that period; first when a flying Consigli denied Eder and then when Brozovic shot wide from Perisic's assist. The final whistle marked the end of the match which resulted in a 2-1 win for Sassuolo but there was nevertheless applause for Spalletti's men from the Inter supporters.
INTER 1-2 SASSUOLO
Goalscorers: 25' Politano (S), 72' Berardi (S), 80' Rafinha (I)
INTER: 1 Handanovic; 7 Cancelo, 37 Skriniar, 13 Ranocchia (77' 20 B. Valero), 33 D'Ambrosio; 11 Vecino (71' 23 Eder), 77 Brozovic; 87 Candreva (58' 17 Karamoh), 8 Rafinha, 44 Perisic; 9 Icardi
Substitutes: 27 Padelli, 46 Berni, 2 Lisandro, 5 Gagliardini, 21 Santon, 25 Miranda, 29 Dalbert, 99 Pinamonti
Coach: Luciano Spalletti
SASSUOLO: 47 Consigli; 5 Lemos (84' 55 Letschert), 15 Acerbi, 39 Dell'Orco; 98 Adjapong, 7 Missiroli, 4 Magnanelli, 32 Duncan, 26 Rogerio; 16 Politano (71' 30 Babacar), 25 Berardi (79' 90 Ragusa)
Substitutes: 77 Pegolo, 70 Marson, 6 Mazzitelli, 8 Biondini, 10 Matri, 17 Pierini, 22 Frattesi, 29 Cassata, 38 Ferrini
Coach: Giuseppe Iachini
Bookings: Berardi (S), Brozovic (I), Lemos (S)
Added time: 1' + 6'
Referee: Abisso
Assistants: Del Giovane, Prenna
Fourth official: La Penna
VAR: Di Bello, Crispo
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