Inter returned to winning ways on Saturday as Marcelo Brozovic netted a late winner in a 1-0 victory over Torino at San Siro.
The Nerazzurri were indebted to a fine individual display from Samir Handanovic, with Lautaro Martinez and Milan Skriniar going close for the home side after the interval.
And their second half persistence was rewarded when Brozovic showed a clinical touch two minutes from time to spare his side’s blushes.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between for the Nerazzurri before the interval, with Martinez blazing wide on a couple of ocassions with efforts from distance.
Indeed, it was the visitors who engineered the biggest chance of the opening 45 minutes. Nikola Vlasic showed nimble footwork to weave his way into the Inter penalty area, denied only by the feet of Handanovic from 12 yards out.
Brozovic tried his luck from 30 yards out after being presented with space in a central position, but his effort was always rising and caused no harm to Vanja Milinkovic-Savic in the Torino goal.
Inter rode their luck at the start of the second half as Antonio Sanabria went close for the away side. The Paraguayan met a cross from the left unmarked in front of goal, but Handanovic was equal to his header with a superb diving stop.
The Torino forward was almost given his marching orders minutes later as he saw red for catching Hakan Calhanoglu with his forearm while contesting a header, but the referee was ordered to the pitchside monitor before reversing his decision.
Ricardo Rodriguez drew another diving save from the Inter No.1 when his low-driven free-kick was deflected en route, while the Slovenian saved twice from Vlasic as the on-loan West Ham man lurked with intent.
Martinez and Edin Dzeko combined neatly on the edge of the penalty area in a rare moment of danger for Inzaghi’s side, but the Bosnian’s strike was straight down the throat of the Torino goalkeeper.
The home side engineered their best opportunity of the game so far from a corner with a little over 15 minutes remaining. Skriniar powered a header towards goal from a corner after rising highest, but Milinkovic-Savic was alert to push the ball into the air before collecting at the second attempt.
It was the late, late show for Inter, however, as Nicolo Barella turned architect for Inzaghi’s men two minutes from time. The Italian international floated a gorgeous cross towards Brozovic, spinning into the penalty area from deep, before the Croatian stabbed the ball home.
Credit: 90min.com
