Inter bow out of Coppa Italia after 2 - 1 Lazio defeat

MILAN – Inter are out of the Coppa Italia after they slipped to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Lazio at San Siro on Tuesday night.

Lazio took the lead on 20 minutes after Felipe Anderson headed home, before extending their lead through a second-half penalty from Lucas Biglia following a red card for Miranda. Marcelo Brozovic pulled one back late on with a dinked header, but Inter were unable to find an equaliser despite persistent late pressure.

The Nerazzurri started well, with Antonio Candreva threading it through for Ivan Perisic early on only for the Croatian to find the side netting. On 15 minutes, Geoffrey Kondogbia pounced on a loose ball and thrashed a scintillating effort off the outside of the post, as Inter seemingly strengthened their hold on the game.

Yet Stefano Pioli’s side would find themselves a goal down just five minutes later. In their first real chance of the game, Senad Lulic swung in a cross from the left for Felipe Anderson to nod past Samir Handanovic for 1-0.

The goal left Inter rattled, and Lazio could – perhaps should – have scored two more in quick succession as first Ciro Immobile dragged wide then Felipe Anderson saw his effort stopped by Handanovic. Half time was welcome relief for the Nerazzurri.

Pioli rolled the dice at the interval, sending Joao Mario and Mauro Icardi on for Ever Banega and Rodrigo Palacio, but Lazio continued to cause Inter problems. Wesley Hoedt drew a parried saved from Handanovic following a Lazio corner, and there was a huge let off for Inter as Marco Parolo blazed the rebound over from barely three yards.

The Nerazzurri looked to get a hold of the contest, but there was more trouble brewing. On 54 minutes, Immobile and Miranda clashed legs in the penalty box and the Lazio forward hit the deck. The referee pointed to the spot and plucked his red card from his pocket, sending Miranda for an early bath and leaving Inter’s chances hanging by a thread. Biglia stepped up and made no mistake.

The sending off seemed to galvanise the Nerazzurri, who streamed forward in search of a way back into the game. Their efforts were nearly rewarded in the 66th minute, as Icardi’s diving header was deflected just round the outside of the post.

The sides were levelled up 15 minutes from the final whistle after Stefan Radu tripped Icardi to pick up a second yellow card, breathing renewed hope into Nerazzurri lungs. And that hope erupted into full-blown belief on 84 minutes as Brozovic headed over Federico Marchetti to make it 2-1 and send the San Siro faithful wild.

As the cheers rained down from the stands, Inter forced themselves up the pitch. Four minutes were added on by the referee, but there just wasn’t enough time for the Nerazzurri to snatch what would have been a deserved equaliser.

INTER 1-2 LAZIO (HT: 0-1)Scores: Felipe Anderson 20, Biglia 55, Brozovic 83.

INTER: 1 Handanovic; 33 D'Ambrosio, 24 Murillo, 25 Miranda, 15 Ansaldi (Medel 58); 77 Brozovic, 7 Kondogbia; 87 Candreva, 19 Banega (Joao Mario HT), 44 Perisic; 8 Palacio (Icardi HT).Subs not used: 30 Carrizo, 2 Andreolli, 5 Gagliardini, 6 Joao Mario, 9 Icardi, 11 Biabiany, 21 Santon, 23 Eder, 55 Nagatomo, 96 Barbosa, 99 Pinamonti.Coach: Stefano Pioli.

LAZIO: 22 Marchetti; 4 Patricio, 3 De Vrij, 2 Hoedt, 26 Radu; 16 Parolo, 20 Biglia, 96 Murgia (Wallace 77); 10 Felipe Anderson (Milinkovic 73), 17 Immobile, 19 Lulic (Lukaku 73).Subs not used: 1 Strakosha, 55 Vargic, 6 Lukaku, 7 Kishna, 8 Basta, 9 Djordjevic, 15 Quissanga, 18 Alberto, 97 Rossi, 98 Folorunsho.Coach: Simone Inzaghi.

Yellow cards: D'Ambrosio 45, Radu 45, Lulic 46, Parolo 52, Patricio 79, Brozovic 90+1.Red cards: Miranda 54, Radu 76.

Added time: 1 + 4 minutes.

Referee: Guida.Assistants: Meli, Cariolato.Fourth official: Celi.