STADIO GIUSEPPE MEAZZA (Milan) – AS Roma inflicted a second consecutive Serie A defeat on a dismayed Inter side as they came back from behind to win 2-1 and pile more pressure on Simone Inzaghi.
Two goalkeeping mistakes, one for each side, helped Federico Dimarco and Paulo Dybala to find the net in the first half, before Chris Smalling’s towering header after the break gave the visitors all three points.
Goalkeepers under the spotlight for the wrong reason
Although both sides needed to immediately bounce back after losing their last Serie A match prior to the international break, neither of them looked willing to take too many risks in the opening minutes.
However, the hosts seemed to have a clearer idea of how pose threat to Rui Patricio’s goal – they had Edin Dzeko’s opener ruled out due to offside and eventually broke the deadlock seconds before the half-hour mark. Dimarco’s scruffy right-footed attempt proved enough to beat Patricio and put Inter ahead.
Dybala gets his AS Roma goal against Inter
Dybala also made the most of Samir Handanovic’s poor goalkeeping, as he brought things level before the break by volleying Leonardo Spinazzola’s cross past the Nerazzurri skipper, who ended up deflecting the ball into his own net in an attempt to keep it out.
The game remained in the balance until the 75th minute when Smalling jumped the highest amongst Inter defenders to head Lorenzo Pellegrini’s free kick home and complete the turnaround for the Giallorossi.
A round of substitutions and a disjointed reaction were not enough to rescue the Nerazzurri from their fourth defeat in eight Serie A matches, which marks a poor start to the season.
