Inter held at home by Fiorentina

MILAN – Inter were made to settle for a point at home to Fiorentina in which the hosts quickly responded to Lucas Torreira’s opener early in the second half through a brilliant Denzel Dumfries header to earn a point in the final game before the international break.

A fully packed-out San Siro crowd was in eager anticipation ahead of the clash with a tough and aggressive Fiorentina side. Inter were once again without Stefan de Vrij and Marcelo Brozovic, which saw Hakan Calhanoglu sit in front of the defence and Arturo Vidal was tasked with a more advanced role. Vincenzo Italiano sent his charges out in a 4-3-3 system, with Riccardo Saponara and Nicolas Gonzalez supporting Krzysztof Piatek as the lone striker.

There was a lively start to the game with both sides playing at pace, trying to get forward in great numbers and no fear of flying into the tackle. Denzel Dumfries was often found marauding down the right and caused the Viola a great deal of trouble. Italiano’s side had a classic approach involving a high press, tricky wingers and pacey midfielders who looked to get forward where possible. In the end, the visitors racked up no fewer than 11 efforts on Samir Handanovic’s goal, eight of which were from inside the penalty area.

Samir had to be on his toes to keep out Gonzalez and Saponara in the first half, while a string of blocks by Milan Skriniar, Vidal and Edin Dzeko also proved crucial.

Inter did create danger at points as well, in particular down the right through Dumfries, who sent some fine crosses into the mixer. The team’s biggest chance in the first half fell to Dzeko when Nicolo Barella released the Bosnian, but Pietro Terracciano rushed out to deny him.

Lautaro did stick the ball in the net before the half was over after Dumfries caused havoc in the box, only for it to be ruled out for offside, as the two sides went in all square at the interval.

The second half began at a frantic tempo, almost fitting of a dramatic finale, with both teams getting straight into gear and attacking at pace. With 47 minutes on the clock, Inter went close when Dzeko released Vidal, only for Terracciano to palm his effort away with a diving save. The rebound fell to Barella, but the midfielder couldn’t get over the ball and sent his attempt over the bar.

Fiorentina effectively went up the other end and punished the hosts for their wastefulness as Gaetano Castrovilli released Gonzalez down the right side of the box, allowing the Argentine to send in a cross straight to Torreira to smash the visitors ahead on 50 minutes.

Inter’s character was questioned and the team responded fittingly, with the equaliser arriving just five minutes later when Ivan Perisic sent in a pinpoint cross from the left that Dumfries headed back where it came from at the back post to equalise. The San Siro faithful roared and the Nerazzurri went in search of a second, with the Croat having a decent chance shortly after when he cut in from the left inside the box and took aim, but Terracciano was equal to his low shot.

There was a feeling that a second goal was imminent when Daniele Chiffi pointed to the penalty spot for a challenge on Lautaro, but the excitement soon dispersed when he overturned his own decision after an on-field review.

It could’ve gone either way as the clock ticked down, with mistakes aplenty among a whole host of tough tackles and chances at both ends. Simone Inzaghi’s changes refreshed the team and in the 89th minute, the whole crowd held its breath as Alexis Sanchez raced on to Vidal’s layoff to fire a vicious shot goalwards, only for Cristiano Biraghi to miraculously block the ball and turn it behind for a corner.

There was even a chance for the visitors to win it deep into stoppage time when Jonathan Ikone burst into the box and took aim with real venom, only for Handanovic to make a crucial save and preserve a point for Inter in the title race.

Next up for the Nerazzurri after the international break is a trip to Juventus.

INTER 1-1 FIORENTINA (HT: 0-0)

Scorers: Torreira 50, Dumfries 55.

INTER (3-5-2): 1 Handanovic; 33 D'Ambrosio, 37 Skriniar, 95 Bastoni (32 Dimarco, 80); 2 Dumfries, 23 Barella, 20 Calhanoglu, 22 Vidal (88 Caicedo, 90), 14 Perisic (18 Gosens, 80); 9 Dzeko (19 Correa, 74), 10 Lautaro (7 Sanchez, 74).Subs not used: 21 Cordaz, 97 Radu, 5 Gagliardini, 8 Vecino, 11 Kolarov, 13 Ranocchia, 36 Darmian.Coach: Simone Inzaghi.

FIORENTINA (4-3-3): 1 Terracciano; 23 Venuti, 4 Milenkovic (2 Martinez Quarta, 90+1), 98 Igor, 3 Biraghi; 10 Castrovilli, 18 Torreira, 32 Duncan; 22 Gonzalez (7 Callejon, 90+1), 19 Piatek (9 Cabral, 90+1), 8 Saponara (11 Ikone, 74).Subs not used: 25 Rosati, 69 Dragowski, 14 Maleh, 17 Terzic, 29 Odriozola, 33 Sottil, 55 Nastasic, 91 Kokorin.Coach: Vincenzo Italiano.

Booked: Milenkovic, Saponara, D'Ambrosio.Added time: 0+4 minutes. 

Referee: Chiffi.Assistants: Valerani, Pagliardini.Fourth official: Marchetti.VAR: Valeri.Assistant VAR: Zufferli.