Football

Inter lose ground in title race after Sampdoria defeat


Inter Milan have lost ground in the title race following a 2-1 defeat to Sampdoria on Wednesday. 
The Nerrazzurri had the chance to go top of the standings, at least temporarily with a win over their hosts but goals from Antonio Candreva and Keita Balde condemned Antonio Conte’s men to a painful defeat.
It also meant that Inter’s eight-match winning run in Serie A came to a shuddering halt.
Alexis Sanchez failed to convert an early penalty as the visitors failed to take the initiative at the Luigi Ferraris.
Another VAR check led to Candreva opening the scoring from the spot and Keita – on loan at Sampdoria from Monaco – doubled the hosts’ lead in an enthralling first half.
Stefan de Vrij finally headed wasteful Inter onto the scoreboard after 65 minutes, but Antonio Conte’s side failed to find and a leveller and remain second, one point adrift of Milan.
In a breathless opening, Emil Audero foiled Ashley Young’s whipped shot and Milan Skriniar skewed wide from the same corner that saw Morten Thorsby pinged for handball after VAR’s intervention.
Audero kept out Sanchez’s penalty and Young smashed the rebound against the post, while Lorenzo Tonelli’s looping header for Sampdoria hit the crossbar soon after.
Candreva succeeded where Sanchez failed after 23 minutes, firing into the left of the goal after VAR spotted Nicolo Barella had handled a Tonelli header.
Things worsened for Inter when Keita swept home Mikkel Damsgaard’s low right-wing centre seven minutes before the break.Sanchez was denied by Audero again and Lautaro Martinez wastefully headed wide, before the former followed suit in similar style after the break.
Inter finally responded when De Vrij headed home Marcelo Brozovic’s corner with 25 minutes left and substitute Romelu Lukaku saw a powerful downward header brilliantly stopped by Audero.
Ivan Perisic was twice off target with headers either side of Martinez testing Audero at his near post but Inter were frustrated in their endeavours.

Serie A Results 

Sampdoria 2-1 Inter

Cagliari 1-2 Benevento

Bologna 2-2 Udinese

Crotone 1-3 Roma

Lazio 2-1 Fiorentina

Sassuolo 2-1 Genoa 

Toronto 1-1 Hellas

Atalanta 3-0 Parma

Sammy Wejinya

Recent Posts

Marathon magic in New York and Soweto

Competitive racing was the order of the day at the TCS New York City Marathon…

1 day ago

Mainz 05 Inspires Youth at Totalsport Safe-Hub in Alexandra

A coaching team from Bundesliga club 1.FSV Mainz 05 visited Totalsport Safe-Hub in Alexandra for…

6 days ago

Spotlight on African basketball talent and milestones as NBA’s 2024/25 season takes off

An NBA season packed with African talent and colourful courts is underway, with games available…

1 week ago

Tsitsikamma and Trail Running – setting the gold standard for inclusive conservation

Victor Mokoena and his team in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park…

2 weeks ago

Xaba and Tola re-write the record books at Sanlam’s Cape Town Marathon

Rising Ethiopian marathon star, Abdisa Tola, and South Africa’s running great, Glenrose ‘Supercharger’ Xaba, created…

3 weeks ago

Collin and Tayla shine on Day One of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon weekend

Zimbabwean Collin Kanyimo and British athlete Catherine Williamson took the trail honours in the 44km…

3 weeks ago