Inter emerged as 2-1 victors against Roma in their Serie A clash at the Stadio Meazza on Saturday night.
Hernanes’ stunning strike lit up a dour first half before Radja Nainggolan levelled affairs just after the hour mark for the Giallorossi with a crisp effort. Mauro Icardi stole victory for the Nerazzurri in the final minutes with a close range shot.
The game began slowly and the only moment of note during the early exchanges was when Samir Handanovic parried Daniele De Rossi’s speculative effort from 35 yards.
The game’s first moment of quality produced the opening goal from Inter’s first meaningful attack. Rodrigo Palacio laid the ball off to Hernanes, who after taking a touch to evade Jose Holebas, fired home an unstoppable drive into the far corner from outside the box.
Roma nearly drew level within five minutes, however Victor Ibarbo’s effort struck the bottom of the post with Handanovic rooted to the spot.
Hernanes’ goal aside, the first half desperately lacked any finesse and quality. The Brazilian fired a snapshot wide before Ibarbo went on a mazy run past several Inter defenders, only to then run the ball out of play from a promising position.
The Giallorossi came out after the interval with more intent but continued to lack the precision to fully break down a resilient looking Inter defence.
With Roma pushing forward, the hosts were exploiting the space created at the back through swift counter attacks, Fredy Guarin played in Mauro Icardi who could only fire his shot wide.
Radja Nainggolan and Alessandro Florenzi both fired powerful efforts high of Handanovic’s goal as Rudi Garcia’s side began to wrestle control of the game and their pressure would tell just after the hour mark.
Miralem Pjanic provided the prefect pass for Nainggolan after he had been gifted possession by Andrea Ranocchia and the Belgian drilled home a low first time shot into the far corner.
Momentum was now with the visitors and they came close to taking the lead through Pjanic’s free kick, but he was denied by Handanovic.
The hosts were rarely threatening the Roma goal however Guarin did manage to test Morgan De Sanctis from a tight angle and Icardi spurned a great chance as he fired over from a central position in the final ten minutes.
Despite his profligacy throughout the game, Icardi delivered at the death. Lukas Podolski played the ball to him and after he expertly turned Kostas Manolas, he fired past De Sanctis from just inside the six yard box.
There was still time for Podolski to fire wide but the Nerazzurri managed to secure their first triumph over Roma in four years.
