Fourth consecutive points loss Dumfries and De Vrij with Inter, after Onana error
NOS Football–
Internazionale did poor business in the Italian Serie A in the battle for Champions League tickets. At away from number fifteen Salernitana, which is fairly well above the relegation zone with a nine-point lead, Inter played a 1-1 draw with Stefan de Vrij and Denzel Dumfries in the starting lineup.
It is already the fourth consecutive points loss for the Milan club after defeats against Spezia, Juventus and Fiorentina.
De Vrij wore the captain’s armband due to the absence of the first four (!) captains, for various reasons. This while De Vrij has been starting in the starting line-up more often than not in recent weeks. For opponent Salernitana, Tonny Vilhena started in midfield.
Mexican World Cup hero stands in Inter’s way
Already in the sixth minute, former Heracles Almelo player Robin Gosens broke the spell after a passed ball from Romelu Lukaku. With inside foot, the German international Gosens shot the ball in through the side netting, behind Mexican veteran Guillermo Ochoa.
The 37-year-old goalkeeper, who participated in no less than five World Cups on behalf of Mexico, landed back in Europe after three years at home with Salernitana this season.
Just before halftime, Lukaku had a good chance after a bespoke cross from Dumfries. However, Lukaku headed at Ochoa, who stopped the ball unorthodoxly with his knees. Early in the second half, the visitors were again close to doubling the score, but Nicolò Barella hit the post from distance. Moments later, Ochoa made a save on a header by Dumfries.
After more than an hour of play, Salernitana again got away very well: from a corner Lukaku hit the crossbar with a close-range header, after which De Vrij seemed to score. However, his header was cataclysmically saved by Ochoa. The goal-line technology showed that the ball was just not quite over the line.
Salernitana therefore remained in with a chance of a result and even almost equalized 20 minutes before time through substitute Boulaye Dia, who shot the ball from a close-range cross onto the crossbar. As Lukaku also failed to score six minutes before time – his distance shot was stopped by standout Ochoa – it remained exciting in Salerno, a port city just below Naples.
In the 90th minute, the misses cost Inter dearly after a stroke of luck for the home side. Former Ajacied André Onana, currently first goalkeeper at Inter, miscalculated a cross from Antonio Candreva, hurting his old team with it: 1-1. In four minutes of injury time, Inter did not manage to avoid a fourth consecutive point loss.
