Inter pull off late win against Roma through Mauro Icardi goal

Updated: May 17, 2023, 06:17 am
Hernanes goal in the 15th minute put Inter on top and they would go on to win 2-1 over Roma.
Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

Mauro Icardi's 17th goal of the season took Internazionale back into the hunt for a place in Europe next season and dented Roma's Champions League aspirations with a 2-1 win.

Hernanes gave the Nerazzurri the lead after 15 minutes but Radja Nainggolan's equaliser looked like it would be enough to earn Roma their 11th draw in their last 15 games.

Icardi had other ideas, though, and his 88th-minute winner took Inter ahead of their city rivals AC Milan in the Serie A table and to within four points of sixth-placed Fiorentina, who still have a game in hand.

Both sides looked keen in a lively opening in which both defences had to be at their best to deal with the respective threats posed by two attack-minded formations.

Hernanes found a way through in the 15th minute with his shot from 20 yards curling away from Morgan De Sanctis into the far corner, a goal which will have meant even more to a former Lazio player.

Moments later, Victor Ibarbo hit the post after Gervinho's effort was blocked by Andrea Ranocchia.

That showed how slender Inter's lead was, and a bright start to the second half from Roma made it look even more precarious.

Alessandro Florenzi blazed over from a good position after being found by Miralem Pjanic, and an even better ball from the Bosnian set up Nainggolan to bring the Giallorossi back on terms after an hour's play.

The Belgian needed only one touch from Pjanic's diagonal ball, and that was a sweet low shot past Samir Handanovic.

Pjanic then had a free-kick parried by Hananovic with Nemanja Vidic turning the loose ball behind with Seydou Keita and Ibarbo both waiting to pounce as Roma started to get on top.

The game became stretched and Inter coach Roberto Mancini took a gamble by sending on Xherdan Shaqiri and Lukas Podolski, fielding effectively six attacking players for the final 15 minutes.

It paid off too with Icardi, only moments after he blazed a shot over from 15 yards, turning a perfect pass from Podolski below De Sanctis and in.