Inter 1-0 Sampdoria: Nerazzurri break Blucerchiati resistance with late penalty

Date: 29th October 2014 at 10:53pm
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Inter defeated Sampdoria 1-0 in Serie A action at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Wednesday night.

The Doriani were solid throughout the night but it took a late Mauro Icardi penalty to win the match for the Nerazzurri and ease the pressure on Walter Mazzarri.

Inter dominated the first half but  Icardi and Rodrigo Palacio struggled to get past Sergio Romero and his centre-backs Daniele Gastaldello and Alessio Romagnoli.

Palacio had a shot saved by Romero after running onto a Mateo Kovacic through-ball, and then the former Genoa forward crossed the ball for Icardi, who headed straight at the Sampdoria goalkeeper.

A turn and shot from Icardi forced an excellent save out Romero but it was the Doriani who came closest to taking the lead at half-time.

Pedro Obiang first had a shot that went straight at Samir Handanovic but Alfred Duncan hit the crossbar after receiving the ball from Manolo Gabbiadini.

Palacio went on a run on the left early in the second half but his shot hit the side-netting. After that, Sampdoria started to control possession.

Stefano Okaka took a thunderous long-range shot which required Handanovic to save it and then grab the ball on the second attempt. Then Gabbiadini’s low free-kick forced another fine save out of the Inter goalkeeper.

Inter midfielder Zdravko Kuzmanovic latched onto a through-ball but he hit the angled shot weakly and then Sampdoria defender Vasco Regini had an acrobatic volley saved easily by Handanovic.

The Nerazzurri started to regain control of the game and Nemanja Vidic wanted a penalty but play was waved on.

Kovacic and Palacio had chances to put the Nerazzurri ahead but both players put their chances wide.

Okaka then crossed for Eder from the right-wing and his touch brought out a great fingertip save out of Handanovic.

The match looked headed for a goalless draw but there was a controversial late penalty given to Inter.

Alessio Romagnoli was adjudged to be holding on to Kuzmanovic and the Nerazzurri midfielder went down. Referee Carmine Russo awarded the spot kick despite the vehement protest of the Sampdoria players.

Icardi stepped up and dispatched the penalty past Romero, who despite getting a hand onto the shot, could not prevent the goal and the away side’s first defeat of the season.

 

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