Primavera 1 TIM: 1 - 0 win over Juventus sends Inter to the final!

SASSUOLO - It’s the tenth final since 2012 and the seventh under Stefano Vecchi. Furthermore, it’s the third consecutive final between Inter and Fiorentina after last year’s Scudetto clash and the Viareggio Cup meeting a few months ago. These are the extraordinary figures for the Inter Under-19 side who beat Juventus in the semi-final thanks to Zaniolo’s 49th minute goal to book a place in the final against the Viola on Saturday 9th June at 20:45 CEST. 

At the Stadio Ricci, the match between Inter and Juventus started at a good tempo. In the eighth minute, Pissardo was called on to make a great save from a Jakupovic free kick with the Inter goalkeeper tipping it out for a corner. Vecchi’s side responded and in the 16th minute, Del Favero almost conceded after a real howler. While receiving a backpass, the Juventus goalkeeper failed to control the ball and scrambled to clear off the line before Belkheir then incredibly hit the post with the follow-up effort. In the 24th minute, Inter were still pressing and Del Favero saved down low from Zaniolo. In the 31st minute, Fernandes of Juventus fired wide. Under heavy rain, the first half finished goalless. 

The Nerazzurri made a change for the second half with Rover replacing Belkheir. There was a big chance for Inter in the 48th minute. Emmers made the most of some poor defending and let fly with a low right-foot effort that went just wide of the post. 60 seconds later, Zaniolo broke the deadlock, turning home with his head from a corner after bursting into the Juventus box. Juventus responded in the 54th minute. Olivieri received the ball out on the left and fired with his right but he couldn’t keep it on target. Inter were on the front foot again in the 63rd minute. Emmers played an inviting ball in for Zaniolo who just failed to reach it. Emmers then had a chance for himself in the 72nd minute but the Belgian fired over with his powerful effort. 

After riding the danger, the Bianconeri had a chance to level. In the 79th minute, the substitute Capellini wasted a good chance, firing over from a good position in front of goal. 60 seconds from the end of the 90, Pissardo dived to save from Di Pardo. The referee awarded five minutes of stoppage time and Colidio almost made it 2-0 four minutes in after being set up by Rover. That was the last piece of action in the match as Inter took the 1-0 win and it will now take one last effort against Fiorentina. #ForzaInter!

INTER 1-0 JUVENTUS 

Goals: 49' Zaniolo (I)

INTER: 1 Pissardo; 2 Valietti, 4 Nolan, 19 Lombardoni, 6 Bettella, 3 Sala; 8 Emmers (82' 20 Gavioli), 5 Pompetti, 10 Zaniolo; 18 Colidio, 11 Belkheir (46' 7 Rover)

Bench: 12 Dekic, 30 Tintori, 9 Adorante, 14 Schirò, 15 Corrado, 16 Rada, 17 Roric, 22 Zappa, 23 Vergani, 24 Merola

Coach: Stefano Vecchi

JUVENTUS: 1 Del Favero, 2 Vogliacco, 3 Tripaldelli, 4 Zanandrea, 5 Fernandes, 6 Pereira Serrao (67' 16 Capellini), 7 Di Pardo, 9 Olivieri, 10 Jakupovic, 11 Portanova (77' 20 Montaperto), 17 Merio (68' 22 Morachioli)

Bench: 12 Loria, 13 Meneghini, 14 Anzolin, 15 Delli Carri, 21 Morrone, 23 Abreu De Freitas, 24 Narciso Da Costa, 25 Galvagno, 26 Petrelli

Coach: Alessandro Dal Canto

Bookings: Portanova (J), Rover (I)

RedCard: Oliveri (J) dissent at the final whistle

Stoppagetime: 1' + 5'

Referee: Matteo Marchetti (Ostia)

Assistants: Fontemurato - Rinaldi

Fourth Official: Pashuku