Inter 2-5 Udinese: Stramaccioni's side end dismal season in ninth
Inter ended their campaign on another sour note as Udinese announced themselves in next season’s Europa League with an emphatic 5-2 victory at San Siro on Saturday.
After surging to fifth in the table on the back of seven consecutive wins, all the Zebrette needed were three points to secure themselves European qualification for the third time in a row, and goals from Giampiero Pinzi, Maurizio Domizzi, Antonio Di Natale, Gabriel Silva and Luis Muriel set them on their way in spectacular fashion. Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni had to contend with his side’s ongoing injury crisis, and his misery was compounded when, not a minute in, Allan fed Pinzi for the midfielder to leave Juan Jesus standing and rifle home past Samir Handanovic. Juan attempted to redeem himself by blasting in Inter’s first shot of the night, which Zeljko Brkic got down well to parry, but right after, Di Natale stole in undetected to connect with a deep cross, leaving the hosts thanking Esteban Cambiasso for his timely intervention off the line. But from the ensuing set-piece swung in by the Udinese captain, Domizzi rose highest in the area to head home and double his team’s advantage in the ninth minute, breaking the San Siro’s spirits. The Nerazzurri were not ready to be done in however, and a penalty area rebound allowed Juan to stab home for his debut Serie A goal. Tommaso Rocchi then conspired to miss Inter’s equaliser, firing a well-weighted Alvaro Pereira pass wide. Handanovic denied Di Natale after the 35-year-old was put through by Dusan Basta’s sumptuous pass, the Slovenian mightily standing his ground to thwart his former team-mate. Di Natale was not to be denied though. As Udinese piled forward on the brink of half-time, the evergreen striker produced a moment of magic by curling off the far post to take the wind out of Inter’s sails and prompt the crowd to its feet in grudging applause. The second period brought no respite for Strmaccioni’s men as Muriel produced a magnificent run from deep to feed Silva, the Brazilian obligingly dinking neatly over Handanovic. Rocchi next compounded Inter’s slump by hitting the post after good work by Fredy Guarin. Substitute Rodrigo Palacio’s squared pass nevertheless allowed Rocchi something to show for his efforts, with the January arrival firing home before being replaced himself. But even that was not enough to stem the Udinese tide, as a defensive mix-up between Yuto Nagatomo and his keeper allowed Muriel to capitalise on a loose ball and roll it past Handanovic. As proceedings petered out, Stramaccioni’s dismal end to the campaign leaves his position untenable despite being confirmed by president Massimo Moratti earlier this week, as they prepare to contend in the Coppa Italia play-off’s in August after finishing a woeful ninth. There was no such heartbreak for Udinese with their stunning victory wrapped up however, as the Fruili outfit were left to dream of rubbing shoulders with the continent’s elite once again.
In contrast, Franceso Guidolin’s men are currently enjoying a seven-match winning streak, and are available at 19/20 (1.95) to extend that run to eight at the San Siro.
The mood will be sombre at San Siro on Sunday, and it is hard to see the hosts offering much resistance against a rampant visiting team who have the bit between their teeth in their bid to secure European football for next season.
