Inter down at low-fly Spezia; Dumfries causes penalty
NOS Soccer–
Internazionale suffered a 2-1 defeat at low-fly Spezia in Serie A. As a result, frontrunner Napoli can advance even further on the number two from Milan this weekend. The difference is already fifteen points. Napoli plays Saturday at home against Atalanta.
At Inter, Netherlands internationals Denzel Dumfries and Stefan de Vrij started on the bench. Dumfries came on midway through the second half and caused a penalty just before time, giving Spezia the win.
In the first half, Inter was clearly the superior side, but the numerous chances were not exploited. The biggest chance was already there in the fourteenth minute when the ball went on the spot at the direction of VAR after a – clear – foul by Mattia Caldara on Danilo D’Ambrosio.
Lautaro Martínez got behind the ball, but Spezia goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski – keeping Jeroen Zoet on the bench – made a save.
In the second half, Spezia came out bolder and that led to a lead in the 55th minute. Daniel Maldini – Paolo’s son and Cesare’s grandson – shot in after excellent cross work from M’Bala Nzola. It was Spezia’s first goal attempt; Inter had wasted seventeen by then.
Penalty kicks in closing stages
The Milanese stepped up a gear and equalized in the 83rd minute. The ball went to the spot again and this time Romelu Lukaku finished the job.
Inter was ready for a final offensive, but four minutes later another penalty was whistled, this time at the other end. Substitute Dumfries extremely clumsily knocked over Viktor Kovalenko and Nzola exploited the penalty kick.
