ROME - Inter are in the Champions League! A crazy comeback win at the Stadio Olimpico saw the Nerazzurri finish fourth due to a superior head-to-head record. What a match…
Played at a very high tempo from the start, it was Lazio who took the lead when Marusic’s shot bounced off Perisic’s face and found its way into the corner beyond Handanovic. The Nerazzurri were under the cosh once again when Milinkovic-Savic’s free kick hit the post before Handanovic then anticipated matters to leap on the ball from a corner.
Inter looked to respond and level around the half-hour mark, as Perisic flicked it on for Icardi but it went out for a corner. Brozovic was the man to take it, with Strakosha making an instinct stop which D’Ambrosio was the quickest to respond to as he turned home the equaliser. It was a spicy affair and Rocchi had shown his fifth yellow card by the 37th minute. Soon after, the home side went back ahead. The Nerazzurri were attacking but a Cancelo cross was blocked, duly setting up a Lazio break with Felipe Anderson applying the finish. Before the break, Handanovic made another important stop from a powerful Milinkovic strike. A few seconds later, Perisic saw an effort blocked from the edge of the area.
There were no changes at the break and the second half began with Lazio on the front foot. It was not long before Spalletti made his first change, with Eder coming on for Candreva. The Nerazzurri quickly had two headed chances through Perisic and Eder, although neither troubled the Lazio goalkeeper. Karamoh soon came on to inject some unpredictability into the side, before what could’ve been a crucial turning point. With the ball striking the arm of a Lazio player, Rocchi blew his whistle to award a spot-kick before then reversing his decision after assessing VAR. However, the Nerazzurri were left in a similar situation moments later after Icardi was brought down in the box, although this time the penalty stood. The Captain duly stepped up to slot the ball past Strakosha to make it 2-2. Lulic was sent off in the aftermath for dissent.
With Inter’s tails well and truly up, Matias Vecino soon scored the game’s winning goal from a corner. The remaining minutes of the match dragged and dragged, although the final whistle finally arrived, with Inter returning to the Champions League!
LAZIO 2-3 INTER
Goalscorers: 9' Marusic, 29' D'Ambrosio, 41' Felipe Anderson, 78' Icardi, 82' Vecino
LAZIO: 1 Strakosha; 27 Luiz Felipe, 3 De Vrij (84' Nani 7), 26 Radu (78' Bastos 15), 77 Marusic; 96 Murgia, 6 Lucas Leiva, 21 Milinkovic-Savic, 19 Lulic; 10 Felipe Anderson, 17 Immobile (75' Lukaku 5).
Substitutes: 23 Guerrieri, 25 Vargic, 4 Patric, 8 Basta, 13 Wallace, 20 Caicedo, 22 Caceres, 88 Di Gennaro.
Coach: Simone Inzaghi
INTER: 1 Handanovic; 7 Cancelo, 37 Skriniar, 25 Miranda, 33 D'Ambrosio (81' Ranocchia 13); 11 Vecino, 77 Brozovic; 87 Candreva (67' Eder 23), 8 Rafinha (68' Karamoh 17), 44 Perisic; 9 Icardi.
Substitutes: 27 Padelli, 46 Berni, 2 Lisandro, 5 Gagliardini, 20 B. Valero, 21 Santon, 29 Dalbert, 99 Pinamonti.
Coach: Luciano Spalletti
Bookings: 13' Brozovic, 23' Miranda, 26' Luiz Felipe, 34' Lulic, 37' Leiva, 47' D'Ambrosio, 63' Strakosha,
Red cards: 79' Lulic
Added time: 1' - 4'
Referee: Rocchi
Assistants: Di Liberatore, Di Fiore
Fourth official : Guida
VAR operators: Irrati, Vuoto
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