SESTO SAN GIOVANNI - Armando Madonna’s Inter succumbed to their first defeat in 2019, narrowly losing to Fiorentina in the first leg of the Primavera TIM Cup semi-final. The Under-19s had a number of chances but they were unable to convert, unlike Meli whose goal saw the Viola leave the first leg with a narrow advantage.
The first chance fell for the visitors at the Stadio Breda, Maganjic played a through-ball to Vlahovic who fired over from a good position. Inter almost went ahead in the ninth minute when a Merola diving header was brilliantly saved by Ghidotti. The goalkeepers were both on form early on. The Viola had two big chances in the 17th and 18th minutes through Vlahovic and then Antzoulas but Dekic did very well to keep it level. In the end, however, there was nothing the Inter goalkeeper could do in the 21st minute when Meli’s powerful shot found its way in at the near post.
After, the Nerazzurri responded well and created a chance for Merola to shoot but he couldn’t keep his left-foot strike on target. In the 27th minute, there was another opportunity for Armando Madonna’s side as Salcedo won the ball from Ghidotti but he couldn’t finish. A minute later, Ghidotti kept out a header from Simonti to prevent an own goal. It was a lively and entertaining match as both sides looked to attack. Inter were having some joy down the flanks but unable to finish in the final third. as Bigica’s side defended well and posed a threat on the break.
Fiorentina were on top at the start of the second half with three chances where Dekic and mistakes from the opposition towards kept Inter in the game. In the 59th minute, Merola made his way into the penalty box but shot over. Inter continued to press late on. Grassini fired from outside the area but Ghidotti saved again while in the 77th minute, a good cross from Schirò for Adorante wasn’t met with clean headed contact.
In stoppage time, the Nerazzurri almost found the equaliser. The substitute Esposito got on the end of a Gavioli cross but his header cannoned off the outside of the post. Inter’s pressure didn’t pay off and Fiorentina left with the lead from the first leg of the semi-final. On 6 March, Inter will have to come from behind and score at least two to progress.
INTER 0-1 FIORENTINA
Goals: 21' Meli
INTER: 1 Dekic; 2 Zappa, 4 Nolan, 6 Rizzo, 3 Corrado (54’ Grassini 13); 8 Gavioli, 5 Pompetti (9' st Roric 19), 7 Schirò; 10 Merola (80’ Esposito 20), 9 Salcedo, 11 Burgio (79’ Adorante 22)
Substitutes: 12 Pozzer, 21 Stankovic, 14 Colombini, 15 Van Den Eynden, 16 Ntube, 17 Pirola, 18 Demirovic
Coach: Armando Madonna
FIORENTINA: 1 Ghidotti, 2 Ferrarini (86’ Pierozzi 14), 3 Simonti, 4 Gillekens, 5 Antzoulas, 6 Hanuljak, 7 Montiel (91’ Kukovec 18), 8 Lakti, 9 Vlahovic, 10 Maganjic (70’ Pierozzi N.), 11 Meli
Subsitutes: 12 Chiorra, 15 Ponsi, 16 Gelli, 17 Fiorini, 19 Gorgos, 20 Nannelli, 22 Simic, 23 Campagnol
Coach: Emiliano Bigica
Bookings: Ferrarini (68 st)
Stoppage Time: 0' - 4'
Referee: Natilla Fabio Molfetta)
Assistants: Falco and Bruni
