Inter hit four to win at Udinese, strengthen position atop Serie A

Updated: May 17, 2023, 06:08 am
Mauro Icardi scored twice as Inter increased their lead in Serie A on Saturday.
AP Photo/Paolo Giovannini

Serie A leaders Inter Milan moved four points clear at the top with a convincing 4-0 victory at Udinese.

Mauro Icardi scored once in each half with Stevan Jovetic and substitute Marcelo Brozovic -- the author of a fine solo goal at the death -- also on target at the Stadio Friuli.

Second-placed Fiorentina can close the gap to a single point by beating Juventus in Turin on Sunday.

Inter looked incisive from the off, with Adem Ljajic threading a ball through the middle to Ivan Perisic, who set up Jovetic only for Orestis Karnezis to make a spectacular save.

The next Inter attack yielded a goal. Bruno Fernandes' pass back to Karnezis was a poor one and Icardi capitalised by stealing in to sweep the ball home.

Inter's tails were up and Jovetic made it 2-0, again thanks to an error by the hosts as Maurizio Domizzi's swipe at thin air allowed the Montenegrin an easy finish under the stranded Karnezis.

Cyril Thereau and Udinese had a goal ruled out for offside shortly after the break and in the 69th minute Samir Handanovic did well to keep both Silvan Widmer and Manuel Iturra at bay.

Inter always looked like scoring again and Icardi provided the third goal with seven minutes remaining, the Argentinian beating Karnezis with his left foot.

The best finish of the night belonged to Brozovic, though.

Fredy Guarin slipped him a pass and, after switching feet, he steered his strike from the left flank to the far corner of Karnezis' goal.