Sassuolo, Milan back to winning ways, as Inter Lazio plays 1-1 draw

 

The clash between Lazio and Inter ended in 1-1 that saw both teams ending the game with ten men.

In the game played at the Olimpico, there were some embarrassing play-acting that are shameful.

After losing 4-1 against Atalanta on the same pitch during the midweek, the Aquile also started on the backfoot with Inter Milan going ahead in the first half through Lautaro Martinez, just some seconds after volleying a shot wide off target.

Ivan Perisic ran into the box, but his effort got deflected into Martinez’s path for the Argentine to finish to squirm it under Thomas Strakosha from 12 yards.

Romelu Lukaku’ will blame his chance for not doubling Inter’s lead in the first half when his effort skimmed the near post.

Some seconds after the restart, Lautaro also failed to convert his chance, turning in Barella’s cross wide.

Lazio didn’t miss their chance this time around, and the drew level. Francesco Acerbi floated cross from the left was met by Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, who rose high above Perisic to nod in from a tight angle.

The shameful acts saw Arturo Vidal got sent off after bringing down Ciro Immobile. The Chilean bent down to apologize, but the striker flapped at him with an angry hand. This made Vidal go down, clutching his face. Immobile was then issued a straight red card for a ‘reaction foul’ while Vidal was issued a yellow.

Stefano Sensi was also red-carded for a reactional foul in a match that descended into arguments and bitter recrimination.

Sensi and Patric went for the ball on the touchline after Marcelo Brozovic’s shot deflected and bounced off the upright.  During the ball contest, Sensi shoved Patric, with his hand catching him slightly in the face.

Meanwhile, AC Milan has continued their winning run in Serie A, defeating Spezia 3-0.

Milan’s goals came from Rafael Leao’s double and Theo Hernandez.

The Rossoneri was not looking like a team that had gone into extra time in midweek, where they secured Europa League qualification after an epic 24 penalties shoot-ou.

Hakan Calhanoglu, who was introduced in the second half, set up a wonderful free-kick for Leao from the back of the post, which he turned in four yards.

Theo Hernandez doubled Milan’s lead. The defender pressed Agudelo into losing the ball in midfield. He then sprinted forward to thump his low drive past the goalie.

Leo got his brace after Franck Kessie nodded down the Saelemaekers cross for him to tap in from six yards.

In another development, Sassuolo were clinical this time around walloping Crotone 4-1.

The visitors failed to take their chances, and they got punished for it.

Sassuolo broke the deadlock through Domenico Berardi, who was lucky to be at the final ball’s end. His woeful cross to Manuel Locatelli across the field ricochet to Gregoire Defrel’s direction, and he released the pass to Berardi, who shot from the edge of the box.

Crotone restored parity as Medhi Bourabia conceded a penalty by kicking Cigarini in the shin. Simy Nwankwo converted the spot-kick, shooting the ball into the near bottom.

Sassuolo regained their lead from the penalty spot as well. Pereira was penalized for an unintentional handball, and Cordaz, who guessed right, couldn’t stop Caputo’s penalty.

The hosts scored their third with a clinical counter-attack move. Berardi laid a good pass for or Caputo to sprint forward The striker then send Cordaz to the ground with a little dummy before dinking it over him into the empty net.

Crotone’s defensive pair Marrone and Magallan got into a muddle, giving Locatelli the chance to blast in from 14 yards.

 

Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed