Juventus stun spirited Inter with late comeback

Inter were feeling aggrieved for much of the game as a series of refereeing decisions went against them in controversial fashion, but still somehow managed to have Juventus on the ropes as the clock ticked down.

Douglas Costa opened the scoring on 13 minutes after the ‘Nerazzurri’ defence failed to clear a ball over the top from the right hand side. The Brazilian took the ball down and put his left through it to send it into the bottom corner.

Controversy soon followed as Matias Vecino was sent off following a robust challenge on Mandzukic. The referee initially showed the midfielder a yellow a card, which replays suggested was fair. But following an inexplicable intervention from VAR the decision was changed to a red.

The rest of the half passed by with Inter actually giving a very good account of themselves all things considered. They came closest when Candreva hammered an effort from 35 yards that had Buffon at full stretch to save it.

The game ignited again just before half time after Andrea Barzagli slid in hard on Mauro Icardi. The Argentine was down for some time undergoing treatment, and replays suggested the challenge was no better than that for which Vecino saw red.

He got his revenge soon after the break. A free kick in from the right was headed home with ease after the former Sampdoria striker lost his man and suddenly Juventus were rocking. Pjanic, who was already on a yellow and could have already seen another, went in again on D’Ambrosio. The Bosnian made no contact with the ball, but did slam his knee and foot into the chest of the defender. Incredulously, no card was forthcoming and the Italian was booked for his complaints.

 

28 April 2018

Eight minutes later and Inter had forgotten about it. Perisic beat Cuadrado down the left and fired a cross into the six yard box. It caught Barzagli running towards his own goal and San Siro erupted.

But Juve came back strong, putting constant pressure on for the final twenty minutes. Eventually it told. Another own goal saw them level when Cuadrado’s cross deflected off Skriniar leaving Handanovic with no chance.

Barely a minute later and there was bedlam in the Juve dugout as Higuain headed home from a free kick. It was a remarkable turnaround for a team who looked lost minutes earlier.

Allegri was sent off for leaving his technical area during the celebrations, possibly leading to a ban, but he’d probably have taken that if it mean the three points.

Inter will be furious with themselves having fought so hard against a combination of factors. Their Champions League hopes are in tatters and they may face a fourth consecutive year out of the tournament. Perhaps the most upset however will be Napoli who now travel to Fiorentina tomorrow needing a win to get back within a point of the 'Old Lady'.

 

28 April 2018