Mauro Icardi scored a second-half brace as Inter Milan rocked Roma 3-1 at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday night to send out an early-season statement of intent to their Serie A title rivals. An early opener from Edin Dzeko, Serie A’s top scorer last season with 29 goals, had a packed Olimpico jumping in anticipation of Roma starting their home campaign with a win.
But the hosts, playing under the watchful eye of new club director Francesco Totti, were stunned into silence in a thrilling second half.
Inter followed Juventus, who were 4-2 comeback winners at Genoa thanks to a Paulo Dybala hat-trick — in making it back-to-back victories to start the season and also vindicated their new coach Luciano Spalletti.
Spalletti brought his second spell in charge of Roma to an end last season, when the saga surrounding club legend Totti’s possible retirement weighed heavily on the coach’s shoulders. He moved to Inter determined to make a fresh start with an underperforming side, who finished seventh and out of Europe altogether. And in only two games, Spalletti has won over the Inter faithful. Saturday’s win, a week after a 3-0 San Siro triumph over Fiorentina, was Inter’s first at the Olimpico since 2008.
Yet, trailing 1-0 and having seen Roma’s Aleksandar Kolarov and Radja Nainggolan both hit the woodwork in the opening half, there was little to suggest Spalletti’s men would launch a successful comeback. Inter escaped trial by the Video Assistant Referee on 55 minutes when Milan Skriniar appeared to trip Diego Perotti at the by-line.
Roma hit the woodwork for the third time on 65 minutes when Perotti’s drive bounced off the inside of the far top corner.
Two minutes later, even Icardi appeared surprised to see Antonio Candreva’s smart threaded pass land at his feet. But the Argentine swivelled to send a low shot past Roma keeper Alisson. Roma spurned a great chance to restore their lead when new Inter defender Dalbert raced back to clear off the line after Stephan El Shaarawy’s lob had beaten Samir Handanovic.
The home crowd was stunned into silence on 77 minutes when Icardi turned on the spot again to fire Ivan Perisic’s delivery into the near bottom corner. Icardi spurned the chance for his hat-trick when he held off Kostas Manolas to test Alisson, while at the other end a Nainggolan drive was blocked by Dalbert.
But the visitors put the result beyond doubt three minutes from time, Perisic coasting past former Inter defender Juan Jesus deep on the left to deliver for Matias Vecino, who sneaked in behind Manolas to tap home.
Yesterday, Torino forward Andrea Belotti got off the mark in style, scoring his first Serie A goal of the season with an outrageous scissors kick in their 3-0 win over Sassuolo. An eventful match also saw two penalties over-turned – one for each side – after consultations with the VAR.
Belotti, who scored 26 league goals last season and is one of the hottest properties in Italian football, opened the scoring in the 45th minute with a truly outstanding effort. The 23-year-old Italy forward also set up the third when he slalomed through the Sassuolo defence for Joel Obi to score in the 88th minute. Adem Ljajic had added the second minutes earlier.
Italian Serie A results
Torino 3 (Belotti 44, Ljajic 84, Obi 88) Sassuolo 0
On Saturday: Benevento 0 Bologna 1 (Donsah 55); Genoa 2 (Pjanic 1-og, Galabinov 7-pen) Juventus 4 (Dybala 14, 45+4-pen, 90+2, Cuadrado 62); Roma 1 (Dzeko 15) Inter 3 (Icardi 67, 77, Vecino 87)
Inter Milan’s Argentinian forward Mauro Icardi celebrates after scoring his second goal during the Italian Serie A match against AS Roma at the Olympic stadium in Rome on Saturday night. (AFP)
