Final score

16 October 2016 15:00

Inter
11' (2nd half) Joao Mario
1 - 2
Cagliari
40' (2nd half) Melchiorri
26' (2nd half) Melchiorri
Referee: Paolo Valeri / Linesmen: Salvatore Longo, Sergio Ranghetti / Fourth official: Ciro Carbone / Assistants: Nicola Rizzoli, Federico La Penna
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Minute Text commentary
45' The Nerazzurri continue to press forward in search of an opener but it's goalless at the break
43' Joao Mario drives through the middle and lets fly with his right. Off target
42' Miranda brings the ball out from the back and is sent sprawling by Sau. The Cagliari skipper goes into the book
38' Candreva's low shot across goal takes a slight deflection. Storari gets down well to save
35' Perisic strikes it from outside the box. Pisacane gets his body in the way
33' Storari comfortably deals with another cross from Candreva
31' Joao Mario volleys narrowly wide after Candreva's centre falls to him
29' Bruno Alves heads behind Candreva's corner
28' Joao Mario is booked for a foul on Bruno Alves
26' Icardi steps up and strikes the penalty wide
25' The Portuguese defender goes into the book
25' Bruno Alves shoves Icardi off the ball in the box. Penalty!
23' Great work from Candreva who ghosts past two defenders yet gets his cross wrong
19' Perisic outpaces Pisacane and fires it in along the six-yard line. Storari claims it
17' Banega dinks it across to Candreva who miscues his right-foot volley
14' Inter keep pushing forward. Candreva's and Banega's balls in are beaten away by the Rossoblu
11' Chance for the Nerazzurri. Perisic whips it in from the left-hand touchline and Ceppitelli nips in ahead of Icardi
8' Candreva bursts forward down the right, beats his opponent with a nutmeg and Storari gathers his low cross
7' Pisacane steps in to stop Banega's free-kick reaching Miranda
5' Nice link-up play between Candreva and Banega. The ball breaks for Joao Mario who looks for Icardi. Cleared by Bruno Alves
4' Cagliari win a corner. Ceppitelli's header loops just wide after catching Perisic
1' The game between the Nerazzurri and Rossoblu is underway. Frank de Boer's men kick off
1' The teams make their way out onto the pitch
1' The sun is shining as Inter host Cagliari in Week 8 of Serie A 2016/17
Minute Text commentary
49' Full time. It ends 1-2 at the Meazza. Joao Mario opens the scoring before Melchiorri levels and forces the winner
46' What a chance for Eder who can't direct his header on target
45' There will be four minutes of added time
43' Handanovic beats away Isla's effort on the break
41' Handanovic saves from Borriello
40' Melchiorri's cross-shot deflects off Murillo and goes in off Handanovic. 2-1 to Cagliari
36' Melchiorri's header flashes just wide
35' De Boer introduces Jovetic. The Nerazzurri coach gambles by withdrawing Ansaldi
33' Joao Mario shows great skill but is held back by Tachtsidis who is promptly shown a yellow card
32' Barella comes on in place of Di Gennaro in the visitors' final change
30' Perisic wanders inside from the right and lets fly with his left. Not enough power to test Storari
29' De Boer throws on Eder in place of Candreva
26' Melchiorri is on hand to finish past Handanovic following a goalmouth scramble. It's 1-1 at the Meazza
25' Rastelli sends on Isla for Munari in his side's second change
23' Inter nearly double their lead. Ansaldi picks out Icardi in the middle yet his header bounces wide
20' Even spell in the match. Inter keep the ball and patiently look to find a second
16' Munari goes into the book for a foul on Santon
14' One switch apiece. Borriello replaces Sau for the visitors, Gnoukouri is on for Banega for the Nerazzurri
13' Banega shoots wide of the post
12' Handanovic makes a superb stop to beat away Di Gennaro's powerful volley
11' GOAL FOR INTER! Joao Mario strikes it from Perisic's ball and follows in to poke home the rebound. 1-0!
10' Handanovic makes a superb save to deny Melchiorri's thumping drive then Sau's curler
6' Joao Mario comes forward and looks for the unmarked Perisic at the back stick. Pisacane put the ball behind
4' Cagliari break after Mr Valeri fails to blow for handball. Di Gennaro's left-footed curler is off target
2' Perisic feeds it through to Icardi but the flag is up
1' The second period begins. No changes for either side. Come on, lads!

Santon
4.4
4.4
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Handanovic
4.52
4.52
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Icardi
2.92
2.92
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Medel
4.27
4.27
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Gnoukouri
3.4
3.4
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Miranda
4.71
4.71
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Murillo
3.82
3.82
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Jovetic
2.77
2.77
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Perisic
4.58
4.58
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Eder
3.15
3.15
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Banega
4.54
4.54
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Ansaldi
4.87
4.87
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Candreva
4.31
4.31
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Joao Mario
6.67
6.67
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Average rating 4.21 SEND RATINGS
5 shots on target 7
7 shots off target 4
13 fouls committed 11
10 corners 6
2 offsides 2
27:06 ball possession 17:47
wins(25) draws(11) defeats(7)
MILAN - Inter made a strong start at home to Cagliari in their first match following the international break, dominating possession in the opening period as they camped out in opposition territory.

After a series of near-misses, the hosts were given the chance to break the deadlock from the spot midway through the first half. Bruno Alves shoved Mauro Icardi off the ball and the additional assistant signalled to the referee to award the penalty. Up stepped the captain but his spot-kick went wide of the post.

Joao Mario then showed his intent on the half-hour mark, striking a volley narrowly off target after Candreva's ball drop invitingly for the Portuguese. Perisic also went close at the back end of the opening 45 minutes but the scoreline was goalless at the break.

There were no changes for the second half and the visitors came out with greater intent. Inter had to be grateful to Handanovic as he first denied Melchiorri's thumping drive before keeping out Sau's curler. On 55 minutes, the Nerazzurri finally landed a telling blow and it was Joao Mario who got on the scoresheet for the first time in Inter colours. The European champion's shot was too hot to handle for Storari and the midfielder followed in to poke home from close range and give the hosts the lead.

There were warning signs for Inter, with Handanovic again called into action to fist away Di Gennaro's try. Icardi might have restored the Nerazzurri's lead meanwhile, yet his header flew narrowly wide after fine work from Ansaldi down the right. On 71 minutes, Cagliari were level. Melchiorri nudged the ball into his path with his heel before poking a scrappy finish past Handanovic to equalise. Ten minutes later, Melchiorri's header flashed wide from Isla's cross but on 85 minutes the Sardinians were not to be denied. The ball broke to Melchiorri from a corner and his effort deflected off Murillo, catching Handanovic out on the line. The last touch came off the Slovenian keeper.

The Nerazzurri poured forward in search of an equaliser at the death, which almost allowed Cagliari to add a third but Handanovic stood firm in the face off efforts from Borriello and Isla.

Despite a late siege, the islanders hung on with Inter left to rue what might have been.

Inter 1-2 Cagliari (HT: 0-0)
Goalscorers
: Joao Mario 55, Melchiorri 70, Handanovic (og) 85.

Inter
: 1 Handanovic; 15 Ansaldi (10 Jovetic 80), 25 Miranda, 24 Murillo, 21 Santon; 17 Medel, 6 Joao Mario; 87 Candreva (23 Eder 72), 19 Banega (27Gnoukouri 59), 44 Perisic; 9 Icardi.
Subs not used
: 30 Carrizo, 7 Kondogbia, 8 Palacio, 33 D'Ambrosio, 55 Nagatomo, 77 Brozovic, 94 Yao, 95 Miangue, 96 Barbosa.
Coach
: Frank de Boer.

Cagliari: 30 Storari; 19 Pisacane, 23 Ceppitelli, 2 Alves, 29 Murru; 16 Munari (3 Isla 68), 77 Tachtsidis, 20 Padoin; 8 Di Gennaro (18 Barella 77), 9 Melchiorri, 25 Sau (22 Borriello 59).
Subs not used: 1 Rafael, 13 Colombo, 4 Dessena, 24 Capuano, 26 Bittante, 32 Giannetti, 54 Salamon.
Coach: Massimo Rastelli.

Booked: Bruno Alves 25, Joao Mario 26, Sau 41, Munari 61, Tachtsidis 78, Barella 86.

starting lineups

Handanovic 1 30 Storari
Ansaldi 15 19 Pisacane
Miranda 25 23 Ceppitelli
Murillo 24 2 Bruno Alves
Santon 21 29 Murru
Joao Mario 6 20 Padoin
Medel 17 77 Tachtsidis
Candreva 87 16 Munari
Banega 19 8 Di Gennaro
Perisic 44 9 Melchiorri
Icardi 9 25 Sau

substitutes

Carrizo 30 1 Rafael
Kondogbia 7 13 Colombo
Palacio 8 3 Isla
Jovetic 10 4 Dessena
Eder 23 18 Barella
Gnoukouri 27 22 Borriello
D'Ambrosio 33 24 Capuano
Nagatomo 55 26 Bittante
Brozovic 77 32 Giannetti
Yao 94 35 Salamon
Miangue 95
Barbosa 96

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