UDINE – Inter claimed a second successive win in Serie A tonight after a hotly contested match against Udinese which saw the home side finish the game with nine men.

At a pumping Stadio Friuli, it was the Nerazzurri who started strongest, with Guarin drawing a smart diving save from Karnezis after one of his signature long-range piledrivers. Five minutes later, Hernanes won a free-kick on the edge of the area, dusting himself down to very nearly squeeze the ball past Karnezis and into the net. It was another good save from the Greek goalkeeper, who was in for a busy night’s work.

Inter were keeping possession well and it wasn’t long before they threatened again. D’Ambrosio exchanged passes with Palacio and swung in a dangerous cross for Icardi, whose dinked header to Hernanes just eluded the Brazilian schemer. A few seconds later, Hernanes found himself in a good position, but could only head into Karnezis’ outstretched gloves.

The match took an unexpected turn in the 40th minute, when the galloping Hernanes was scythed down by Domizzi. The Udinese man was already on a yellow card for dissent, and the referee had no option but to send him off. Down to ten men and holding on, Udinese had Karnezis to thank for maintaining parity as he denied first Icardi, slipped in by Palacio, and then Hernanes. A breathless first half ended with the scores level at nil nil.

There were fireworks right from the off in the second half. Barely a minute had passed before the Nerazzurri had a penalty, after Kovacic was left flattened in the box by a clumsy Danilo challenge. The Friuli showed its displeasure, but there was no doubt about it. And there was no doubt about who was going to take it – Icardi made no mistake for his 18th Serie A goal this season.

Inter seemed in full control, but their lead lasted just a few minutes. Medel mistimed a challenge in midfield, allowing Di Natale to get away from Vidic and slot home for the equaliser. Not to be perturbed, the Nerazzurri went straight up the other end through Palacio, who very nearly restored his side’s lead with a cute back-heel.

There was to be yet more drama, as Badu picked up a booking for dissent before seeming to flick out at the referee, earning himself the ignominy of a red card and the ire of his team-mates. Eleven versus nine.

Keen to make the advantage pay, Mancini brought on Podolski for Guarin in the 65th minute. The German, of course, had failed to score in over three months at Inter, but tonight it took him just two touches to dispatch a scorching effort past Karnezis and into the net.

Inter were pouring forward now, buoyed by their goal, and Podolski almost made it 1-3 with a left-footed shot that whistled past the far post. Hernanes too came close, before Icardi had a back-heeled goal correctly ruled out for offside.

The Nerazzurri weather a late, desperate Udinese storm but there was to be no denying Roberto Mancini’s men. They head home with three vital points in their quest for a European place.

UDINESE 1-2 INTER
Scorers: Icardi pen. 48, Di Natale 50, Podolski 66.

UDINESE: 31 Karnezis; 27 Widmer, 5 Danilo, 11 Domizzi, 89 Piris; 6 Allan, 66 Pinzi, 7 Badu; 19 Guilherme (Pasquale 44 (Perica 86)); 77 Thereau, 10 Di Natale (Kone 61).
Subs not used: 22 Scuffet, 97 Meret, 8 Fernandes, 9 Perica, 13 Zapata, 18 Brubnijc, 21 Hallberg, 34 Gabriel Silva, 82 Geijo, 94 Aguirre.
Coach: Andrea Stramaccioni.

INTER: 1 Handanovic; 21 Santon, 26 Felipe, 15 Vidic, 33 D'Ambrosio; 10 Kovacic, 18 Medel, 13 Guarin (Podolski 65); 88 Hernanes (Gnoukouri 89); 8 Palacio, 9 Icardi.
Subs not used: 30 Carrizo, 20 Obi, 24 Sciacca, 27 Gnoukouri, 28 Puscas, 54 Donkor, 55 Nagatomo, 77 Brozovic, 91 Shaqiri, 93 Dimarco, 97 Bonazzoli.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.

Booked: Pinzi 15, Guarin 19, Domizzi 26, Widmer 51, Badu 58, Podolski 70, Palacio 82, Medel 90+3.
Sent off: Domizzi 40 (second bookable offence), Badu 58.
Added time: 2 + 4 minutes.

Referee: Rocchi.
Assistants: Padovan, Barbirati.
Fourth official: Marzaloni.
Additional assistants: Peruzzo, Pezzuto.

starting lineups

substitutes