Mauro Icardi was the hero as his last minute header gave Inter a 1-0 win over AC Milan in the first Derby della Madonnina of the season.
Both sides had first half goals ruled out for offside, in a match void of clear cut chances but the Nerazzurri captain got his fifth goal in his last four games against Milan to give Inter all three points right at the death.
The result give Inter their seventh win in succession, in all competitions, and fifth in a row in Serie A – in a single season – for the first time since January 2017.
Milan made the early running but only an off target shot from Hakan Calhanoglu to show for it.
Things began to turn Inter’s way after 10 minutes and they had the ball in the back of the net. However, it was ruled out for offside as Matias Vecino touched the ball on its way to Mauro Icardi who, initially wasn’t in an offside position.
Moments later, Matteo Politano saw a deflected cross roll just wide of the post, before Ivan Perisic forced a good save from Gianluigi Donnarumma with a header from he penalty spot.
Inter suffered a blow when Radja Nainggolan was taken off through injury, but hit the post just after the half hour Icardi got on the end of a corner, but couldn’t direct the ball past Donnarumma.
A brilliant drilled ball into the box by Sime Vrsaljko only needed a touch from Icardi, but the Inter captain couldn’t get a toe to it.
Then just before the break, Milan had the ball in the net as Alessio Romagnoli poked home a Suso cross, but on its way into the area it came off the back of Mateo Musacchio, and thus the goal was ruled out for offside.
Vecino had a golden opportunity to give Inter the lead as he was picked out by Perisic, unmarked, but smashed the ball into the stands from 12 yards out.
Inter started the second half in much better fashion, putting Milan under pressure, but were unable to create any good chances on goal.
Politano, Brozovic and Borja Valero all had tame efforts blocked by the Milan backline.
Both teams tired as the match went on, with chances becoming less and less frequent, though it was Inter who dominated the ball.
Keith Balde crossed for Icardi, but his header was easily saved by Donnrumma, and at the other end Suso rifled a freekick from the edge of the area straight into the wall.
With time running out a Ricardo Rodriguex cross was punched into the penalty area by Samir Handanovic, though no Milan striker was there to snatch the rebound.
But then in stoppage time, Icardi was positioned perfectly to nod home a wonderful Vecino cross.
