Palermo 1-1 Inter: Heated stalemate at the Renzo Barbera

Date: 21st September 2014 at 10:54pm
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Palermo drew 1-1 with Inter this Sunday evening at the Stadio Renzo Barbera in Serie A match day three.

First half goals from Franco Vazquez and Mateo Kovacic ensured both sides shared the points despite some controversal refereeing decisions.

After just three minutes the hosts were gifted a goal. Nemanja Vidic laboured on the ball too long in his own area, and when Franco Vasquez intercepted him, the Argentinian lashed his shot past Samir Handanovic. Seemingly stunned by their early mistake, Inter struggled to handle Palermo’s pressing high up the field. Michel Morganella intercepted a loose ball on the wing and fired it into the path of Vazquez, but his strike could only find Andrea Ranocchia’s chest.

Paulo Dybala became a real source of concern for the Nerazzurri. Keeping the ball under close control the 20 year-old dashed into the area, turned to goal and tried to feed captain Edgar Barreto, but the Paraguayan failed to latch on to it. Moments later it was finally the turn of Inter to test the opponent’s goal. Fredy Guarin unleashed one of his signature rasping shots, but his effort fell just wide of Stefano Sorrentino’s post. An altercation at a corner involving Luca Rigoni and Gary Medel resulted in the latter being booked.

Just before the break Inter equalised. Mateo Kovacic picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area and fired it low past Sorrentino to restore parity. Remarkably, Inter put the ball past Sorrentino once again. Rigoni pulled back Guarin to concede a free kick, and the Colombian’s cross found Vidic in the box who thundered the ball into the back of the net, but referee Paolo Valeri disallowed the goal. Striker Pablo Osvaldo appeared to be offside and was ajudged to have interfered with play.

The Rosonaro started the second half brightly. A quick pass from Dybala into the area saw Juan Jesus very nearly score an own goal, but Handanovic parried it away to safety. Inter looked to have taken the lead, but once again the referee ruled out the goal, Mauro Icardi the man ruled offside contentiously when he netted at the back post. The hosts were now beginning to struggle to contain Walter Mazzarri’s men.

However Giuseppe Iachini’s side were not out of this game yet. Goalscorer Vazquez was presented with another chance to score when his powered effort hit the crossbar. Seconds later Vazquez was in again when Morganella’s cross found him in acres of space, but his shot went well wide. Guarin had yet another chance at the other end, but Sorrentino was equal to his effort. Substitute Andrea Belotti had the chance to win the game, but was deemed to have barged Yuto Nagatomo off the ball just before he scored. Palermo coach Iachini was dismissed moments before the final whistle.

Palermo still haven’t won in Serie A this season and Inter pass up a chance to leapfrog their rivals AC Milan.

Follow Louis Gibberd-Thomas on Twitter: @mercutio156

 

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