In a match that failed to feature a single Italian in either starting XI for the first time in Serie A history, Inter have kept their slim Champions League hopes alive by defeating Udinese 2-1 at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Saturday evening.
The away side took the lead through Cyril Thereau inside the opening ten minutes. Stevan Jovetic replied shortly before the interval and completed his brace fifteen minutes from time. Eder ended the match with hist first goal in a Nerazzurri shirt.
Thereau drew first blood on the eve of his 33rd birthday in the 9th minute, after a lovely Emmanuel Badu lofted through ball set the Frenchman up for a first-time volley that left goalkeeper Samir Handanovic without a hope.
Geoffrey Kondogbia saw Inter’s first chance after 16 minutes but his strong effort on the edge of the penalty box was beaten away by Orestis Karnezis at the near post.
The Nerazzurri leveled the match in the 36th minute when Mauro Icardi rolled the ball across the face of goal for Jovetic to tap into the gaping goal.
Inter had a good chance to take the lead just before halftime when a Marcelo Brozovic cross was nodded back across goal by Jonathan Biabiany, but Icardi could not direct his header on target.
Brozovic came close on two occasions within the first five minutes of the second frame, the second of which forced a wonderful reaction save from Karnezis.
Bruno Fernandes responded with an effort that hit the crossbar, leaving Handanovic rooted to the ground.
Jovetic gave Inter their precious lead in the 75th minute, chesting home a deflected Biabiany cross.
Udinese should have equalized in the final minute of extra time but Handanovic popped up in the nick of time to Duvan Zapata from close range.
On the resulting counter attack, Brozovic released Eder on goal, the Italy international poking his effort passed Karnezis to send the Meazza into a state of jubilation.
The Nerazzurri live to fight another day, the victory temporarily bringing them to within four points of Roma in third place, prior to the Giallorossi’s tough test against Napoli on Sunday afternoon. Udinese meanwhile, remain in 14th place, eight points clear of the relegation zone.
