Inter defeated Empoli 4-3 at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Sunday evening in Serie A, though they will miss out on European football next season despite the victory.
After an uneventful first half Rodrigo Palacio and Mauro Icardi put the Nerazzurri 2-0 up, however Empoli pulled two back through Levan Mchedlidze and Manuel Pucciarelli. Then Marcelo Brozovic and Icardi made it 4-2 before Mchedlidze got his second goal to round out the scoresheet.
The first half was very one-sided with Empoli not registering a shot on goal. There wasn’t many great opportunities for the hosts but Yuto Nagatomo let fly from range which was tipped over by Davide Bassi.
Midway through the first half Brozovic skied a volley from inside the box when he should have done better. Then, Icardi picked up a loose ball inside the box but his effort was thwarted by the foot of Bassi.
Moments later, Palacio raced through on goal but his shot was straight at Bassi before Gary Medel volleyed from the edge of the box which whistled past the post soon after.
Just before the break the Nerazzurri had another chance to take the lead and it was Palacio again. A ball was whipped in but the Argentine headed over the bar.
The visitors couldn’t hold out for much longer though as Inter took the lead. Icardi was played in on goal and the club’s top goalscorer squared the ball to Palacio who knocked the ball into an empty goal.
Minutes later, Inter doubled their lead thanks to Icardi. Mateo Kovacic played an inch perfect pass through to the striker who raced onto the ball and placed it into the bottom corner.
With their first shot of the match, the Azzurri pulled a goal back thanks to some good work from Matias Vecino on the wing. The Uruguayan then sent a pass across goal that was deflected to the back post where Mchedlidze nodded into the empty net.
Remarkably, Empoli levelled the match just three minutes later. Simone Verdi played a neat pass to Manuel Pucciarelli who slotted the ball into the bottom corner past Samir Handanovic to stunningly make it 2-2.
Empoli could have even taken the lead in the 68th minute as Mchedlidze was in on goal but his effort was thwarted by Handanovic and the rebound was then blocked.
Inter regained the lead in the 70th minute and it was Brozovic’s first goal for the club. The ball found its way to the Croat as the Azzurri defence could not clear their lines and he smashed the ball into the bottom corner.
The home side regained their two goal lead in the final quarter of an hour as Hernanes played a pass into Icardi who took one touch and then fired the ball into the bottom corner, notching his 22nd goal of the season to join Luca Toni as Capocannoniere.
Empoli got another goal back in the final moments as Mchedlidze smashed the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box but it proved to be too little too late.
Despite the thrilling victory, the Nerazzurri will not feature in next season’s Europa League thanks to Sampdoria’s 2-2 draw with Parma.
