Inter U23 suffer a 2 - 1 defeat away to Savoia

Inter U23 returned to action after the international break but were beaten 2-1 by Savoia in Torre Annunziata on Matchday 9 of the Serie C season. Vecchi’s side came out on the wrong side of a closely contested encounter that began in torrential rain and ended in sunshine, with the decisive goals arriving early in each half. Meola opened the scoring in the 11th minute before Scotti doubled Savoia’s lead in the 52nd. Bovo pulled one back six minutes later to give Inter hope, and the Nerazzurri went on to create several chances for an equaliser, but were unable to find a second goal. The defeat brings Inter U23’s run of two consecutive wins before the break to an end. The Nerazzurri remain on 10 points after seven matches and will return to action on Tuesday away to Giugliano, when they play the first of their two postponed fixtures.

THE MATCH

Heavy rain greeted Savoia’s return to the Stadio Alfredo Giraud, while Inter welcomed Prestia back into the centre of defence and handed Tosto his first start. The game began in chaotic fashion, with plenty of intensity and a series of heavy challenges that led to three injuries inside the opening 15 minutes. Formisano was forced into a double change in the eighth minute, introducing Zoboletti and D’Amore for the injured Cozzoli and Iob, while Vecchi then lost Fiordilino, who was replaced by Bovo in the 17th minute. Amid a stop-start opening full of interruptions, the hosts took the lead in the 11th minute. Martina produced a fine piece of play between the lines before slipping Scotti in down the left. His low cross took a deflection off Prestia and fell kindly to Meola, who struck first time and found the net via the underside of the crossbar. Vecchi’s side initially struggled to respond amid the rain and Savoia’s intensity, but as the first half wore on they began to create danger with a number of deliveries from wide areas. The final cross of the half picked out Avitabile, whose header drifted narrowly wide.

Inter came out with renewed purpose after the break, raising the tempo in search of an equaliser and creating two chances in quick succession. Tosto was the first to go close, bringing down Marello’s pass with his chest before volleying towards goal and forcing Leonardo into a save. From the resulting corner, Prestia rose highest but saw his header clip the outside of the post. However, just as the Nerazzurri were enjoying their best spell of the game, Savoia doubled their lead, with Scotti tapping into an empty net after an excellent assist from Zoboletti. Inter refused to give in and continued to push forward in search of a way back into the game. Vecchi reshaped his side with a triple substitution, introducing Agbonifo, Zuberek and Cerpelletti for Avitabile, Lavelli and Kaczmarski. Zuberek was immediately presented with a great chance inside the box, only for Noce to make a crucial last-ditch intervention. The Nerazzurri stepped up the pressure further and pulled one back in the 58th minute. Mosconi won the ball in midfield and released Zuberek, who rounded Leonardo before squaring for Bovo to tap home and make it 2-1. Inter then piled on the pressure, with Zuberek and Fumagalli both going agonisingly close to an equaliser with efforts that flashed narrowly wide. As the minutes passed, though, the Nerazzurri’s momentum began to fade and Savoia managed possession more effectively, limiting the visitors’ threat. Cerpelletti tried his luck from distance late on, while Fumagalli came within inches of turning in a cross at the far post. Deep into added time, Agbonifo was unable to get a shot away amid a scramble inside the Savoia penalty area, and the hosts held on for the win.

SAVOIA 2-1 INTER U23 | MATCH DETAILS

Goals: 11' Meola (S), 52' Scotti (S), 58' Bovo (I)

Savoia (3-4-1-2): 22 Leonardo; 27 Cozzoli (33 D'Amore 8'), 30 Fabriani, 26 Noce; 24 Iob (15 Zoboletti 8'), 6 Alfieri (11 Riccardi 87'), 14 Tumbarello, 18 Martina; 8 Meola; 9 Scotti (4 Patrignani 87'), 90 Nepi (45 Yeboah 67').

Substitutes: 1 Bethers, 12 Albanese, 7 D'Agostino, 17 Polizzi, 21 Fiasco, 28 Gemello, 77 Ferrara, 78 Mormile, 85 Kalynovych.

Coach: Alessandro Formisano

Inter U23 (3-4-2-1): 1 Melgrati; 23 Donato (37 Sorino 81'), 19 Prestia, 5 Tosto; 2 Avitabile (10 Agbonifo 57'), 7 Kaczmarski (4 Cerpelletti 57'), 8 Fiordilino (14 Bovo 17'), 3 Marello; 30 Mosconi, 99 Fumagalli; 45 Lavelli (11 Zuberek 57').

Substitutes: 22 Taho, 95 Raimondi, 15 Stante, 16 Venturini, 24 Re Cecconi, 27 Aidoo, 29 Mancuso, 80 Garonetti.

Coach: Stefano Vecchi

Booked: 60' Fumagalli (I), 71' Tosto (I), 73' Bovo (I), 79' Alfieri (S)

Added time: 4', 4' Referee: Ursini Assistant referees: Pascoli - Bertelli Fourth official: Mirabella FVS operator: Robilotta