La Gumina's brace isn't enough: Inter U23 draw with Pro Patria

It was a disappointing draw for the Inter U23's in the new side's first home game. At the U-Power Stadium, Vecchi's boys had a great first half and went into the break two to the good. The standout performer was Antonino La Gumina who scored a brace, typical of a great forward: a predator's goal in the box and a marvellous free-kick. Pro Patria then began the second period with great aggression, and managed to level the game with goals from Giudici and Mastroianni. In the end, Inter went searching for a winner, but their pressure came to no use. Two draws in just as many games for Vecchi's boys, who will face Virtus Verona away from home next time out.

INTER U23 2-2 PRO PATRIA | THE BREAKDOWN

Goals: 16' La Gumina (I), 41' La Gumina (I), 49' Giudici (P), 65' Mastroianni (P).

INTER U23 (3-5-2): 1 Melgrati; 15 Stante, 19 Prestia, 5 Alexiou (6 Maye 61'); 46 Cinquegrano (11 Agbonifo 69'), 9 Topalovic (14 Bovo 80'), 8 Fiordilino, 10 Kamaté (37 Kaczmarski 80'), 25 David; 20 La Gumina (35 Zuberek 69'), 7 Spinaccè. Bench: 12 Raimondi, 91 Calligaris, 2 Avitabile, 3 Cocchi, 16 Venturini, 24 Re Cecconi, 26 Garonetti, 30 Mosconi. Manager: Stefano Vecchi.

PRO PATRIA (3-4-3): 1 Rovida; 13 Aliata, 39 Motolese, 6 Viti (4 Reggiori 60'); 7 Orfei (40 Schirò 83'), 25 Ferri, 5 Di Munno, 27 Giudici; 11 Renelus (14 Citterio 60'), 10 Mastroianni, 15 Auci (93 Dimarco 36'). Bench: 22 Bongini, 3 Verre, 16 Frattini, 18 Galantucci, 26 Masi, 29 Gentile, 30 Ferrario, 80 Bagatti. Manager: Leandro Greco.

Bookings: Di Munno (P), Cinquegrano (I), Renelus (P) Added time: 4', 7'

Referee: Silvia Gasperotti (Rovereto) Assistants: De Luca - Callovi. Fourth Official: Manedo Mazzoni. Video review operator: Cavalli.

The first half did not get off to the fastest of starts: Inter were trying to move the ball while Pro Patria were patiently waiting in the midfield. In the first few minutes, neither team managed a good chance. Inter then had a few efforts, first through Kamaté, set up by Topalovic, but he was halted in the area. Then, La Gumina's strike was blocked down low by Rovida. Pro Patria then looked dangerous with Orfei's effort from the left: his cross to the back post was cut out by David. The game then had a bit of a balanced phase, when neither side managed continuous pressure. However, in the 16th minute, Inter surprisingly got in front. Once again, Fiordilino was involved with a great cross from the left: Spinaccè controlled and crossed low into the box, where Antonino La Gumina reacted well to finish past Rovida from close range. 1-0, and his first goal for Inter. The goal opened up the game and both teams upped the rhythm and intensity: the Nerazzurri were pressing all across the pitch, without letting up, whilst Pro Patria were looking to break. In the 25th minute, the visitors came close with a great solo effort from Giudici, who got into the box after picking the ball up in the midfield, but he was tackled right as he was about to get his shot away thanks to an extraordinary effort from Stante. In the 31st minute, from a corner, Topalovic looked for La Gumina on the edge of the area: the forward's strike was just over. In the 36th minute, Greco was forced into a substitution due to Auci's injury: Dimarco came on in his place. Pro Patria looked for an equaliser, but never found full fluidity, looking to make the most of the wings and dead balls: in the 40th minute, after a corner was cleared, Kamaté flew forward and was brought down by Renelus on the edge of the box. La Gumina stepped up and placed it perfectly: his strike soared over the wall and past Rovida. Inter in front by two: it was the last piece of action of a first half in which the young Nerazzurri showed great personality.

The second half opened completely differently to kick-off: Pro Patria were very aggressive and they looked determined to change the game and reduce the deficit. In the 49th minute, they managed it right away through Giudici, found in the centre of the box by Renelus, able to punish Inter for losing the ball on the left wing. The game's momentum then completely swung and gave Pro Patria real courage as they began to apply pressure on the edge of the Nerazzurri's box. The visitors stayed in Inter's half and had a series of three corners, defended by Inter, despite some difficulty. The Nerazzurri were struggling and Pro Patria's equaliser came: in the 65th minute, Dimarco crossed from the left, Ferri laid it off to Mastroianni, just a few yards out from Melgrati. The forward made no mistake and made it 2-2. Inter then tried to react through La Gumina, but his effort from outside of the box was saved. Vecchi tired to change the narrative with fresh legs, but once again, Pro Patria missed an opportunity with Stante coming to the rescue. In the 72nd minute, Maye pulled off a miraculous stop to deny Citterio. Inter then applied more consistent pressure and held the visitors up in their box. In the 82nd minute, Zuberek got himself in a great position, but he was just offside. In the 88th minute, Vecchi asked for VAR's intervention for a possible handball after a series of dangerous corners, but nothing came of it. The final chance of the game fell to Zuberek in the 92nd minute, however he couldn't get on the end of Agbonifo strong cross. Inter U23's first ever home game finished as a 2-2 draw.