All square in Rome after Lukaku’s late leveller

ROME - Both sides with two goals, one point and plenty of regrets. Tonight’s 2-2 draw against Roma secured the Nerazzurri qualification for next year’s Champions League, but saw a slight loss in momentum after the consecutive successes over Torino and SPAL. A strange game, with the scoring opened by de Vrij and rounded off by Lukaku’s late penalty equaliser. In between these came two Giallorossi goals through Spinazzola and Mkhitaryan, along with some well-justified Nerazzurri protests at the home side’s first goal.

THE PHOTOS FROM TONIGHT

A game of patience, of strategic moves. Inter began with plenty of pressing through their two frontmen along with Brozovic’s endless pursuit of the Giallorossi midfielders, with the Nerazzurri making clear their goal of complicating life for Fonseca’s side. The Nerazzurri worked the ball around well, building their play from deep as Handanovic saw plenty of the ball and Skriniar and Bastoni recorded the most touches out of anyone. The opening of the game didn’t see too many big moments, with Roma happy to keep the ball in the Nerazzurri half early on.

When their first chance came however, Inter made no mistake. Of course Sanchez was well involved once more, tonight being his sixth assist in his last six appearances. This time his decisive pass came from the corner flag, as he sent in a perfect set-piece which ended up in Pau Lopez’s net after a precise and pinpoint header from de Vrij. A prolific season for our Dutch defender this year, this being his fourth goal of the season so far. Along with this, yet another headed goal for Inter: our 18th in Serie A and our 21st across all competitions this season.

The Nerazzurri opener didn’t however spark the match into life. The pace simply didn’t pick up, and the chances in the first half were few and far between. In the 27th minute, Brozovic couldn’t quite find the decisive touch after some great link-up between Sanchez and Young. Roma then began to threaten, with Dzeko at the forefront of all of their attacks. It was indeed the Bosnian centre-forward who brought about the home side’s equaliser at the end of the first half: he slotted in Spinazzola who drove the ball goalwards for his first Serie A goal for the club. A goal which was heavily contested after Kolarov’s foul on Lautaro in the build-up, but Di Bello wasn’t convinced and even after an on-field review, the goal stood.

The equaliser gave Roma confidence, with the home side playing in a more proactive fashion after the break as they looked to catch the Nerazzurri out with a direct approach. Fonseca’s men were rewarded for their efforts in the second half: there was an element of luck involved as Dzeko bundled his way through before Mkhitaryan then found the net to make it 2-1. Inter knew that it would be difficult to find a response. In football, however, substitutions often bring new ideas alongside the fresh legs, so Conte decided to intervene, sending on Lukaku, who had sat out Inter’s two previous clashes.

The majority of the Nerazzurri’s work was focused on the right flank, with Moses looking particularly lively, and it was the Nigerian who earned a penalty for his side four minutes from time following a foul by Spinazzola in the box. Lukaku then stepped up to score his sixth Serie A goal from the spot this season (a 100% conversion rate). In doing so, he became the first player to score 13 away goals in his debut season in Serie A since the league took on a round-robin format.

The Nerazzurri then poured forward, looking to string together dangerous moves and net a late winner. Unfortunately, another goal didn’t arrive and the match finished 2-2. A goal-filled draw, typical of Roma vs. Inter clashes. It’s a stalemate that secures the Nerazzurri’s spot in next season’s Champions League, but it’s also a result that leaves a slightly bitter taste in the mouth given the early goal that Conte’s side scored.

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ROMA 2-2 INTER - MATCH DETAILS

ROMA (3-4-2-1): 13 Lopez; 23 Mancini, 41 Ibañez (6 Smalling 74'), 11 Kolarov; 25 Bruno Peres, 42 Diawara (4 Cristante 69'), 21 Veretout, 37 Spinazzola; 7 Pellegrini (8 Perotti 84'), 77 Mkhitaryan (31 Perez 84'); 9 Dzeko.Bench: 63 Fuzato, 2 Zappacosta, 14 Villar, 15 Cetin, 17 Ünder, 19 Kalinic, 27 Pastore, 99 Kluivert.Coach: Paulo Fonseca.

INTER (3-4-1-2): 1 Handanovic; 37 Skriniar, 6 de Vrij, 95 Bastoni (33 D'Ambrosio 82'); 87 Candreva (11 Moses 67'), 23 Barella, 5 Gagliardini (24 Eriksen 69'), 15 Young (34 Biraghi 67'); 77 Brozovic; 7 Sanchez, 10 Lautaro (9 Lukaku 67').Bench: 27 Padelli, 46 Berni, 2 Godin, 13 Ranocchia, 20 Borja Valero, 30 Esposito, 32 Agoumé.Coach: Antonio Conte.

Scorers: 15' de Vrij (I), 46' Spinazzola (R), 57' Mkhitaryan (R), 88' Lukaku (pen.) (I)Bookings: Barella (I), Lopez (R)Added time: 2' - 4'.

Referee: Di Bello.Assistants: Cecconi, Galetto.Fourth Official: Giua.VAR and VAR Assistant: Guida, Di Vuolo.