Inter Milan 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Inter Milan left it late, but they came from behind to beat Spurs at the San Siro with an injury-time winner from Matias Vecino.
Christian Eriksen had put Spurs ahead early in the second half, and the visitors looked comfortable until Mauro Icardi hit a brilliant late strike to set up Vecino’s dramatic finale.
So Inter has opened their Champions League campaign with a bang, and coach Luciano Spalletti will use this as a springboard to launch the season. This was a massive result in Group B, with only two qualifying places available and Barcelona in the pot. Champions League 2018 betting fans will be counting on Barca proceeding after Leo Messi scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 destruction of PSV tonight.
Highlights of the game
The Spurs defence was given a real run-around by Liverpool on Saturday, and Mauricio Pochettino left out Toby Alderveireld and Kieran Trippier for this game; Hugo Lloris and Dele Alli remained sidelined through injury. His side needed to put up a better show than what they had at the weekend, but they looked a little edgy in the opening exchanges while Ivan Perisic and Mauro Icardi linked up well for Inter.
But the first shot on goal came from Spurs and tested Inter keeper Samir Handanovic when Christian Eriksen swerved a free-kick towards him from 30 yards, but he managed to beat the ball away.
Inter were right up for the game, pressing high and playing at a tempo, and Perisic put a dangerous ball in from the left which was punched away by Spurs keeper Michel Vorm. But the best chance of the first half came to Spurs striker Harry Kane. Eriksen put him clean through on goal with a world-class pass, but the arch hitman took a bad second touch and the chance went agonisingly by.
Inter came out for the second half on the front foot, and Matteo Politano sent a shot fizzing just wide of Vorm’s post. And Spurs centre-back Jan Vertonghen took a yellow card for the team, pulling back Icardi as he made a dangerous run.
But then, Spurs took the lead against the run of play, and it was a pretty messy goal from Inter’s viewpoint. Eriksen took a shot from 20 yards which Handanovic beat away and when the ball landed back with Eriksen he sliced his shot which deflected off Miranda, over the hapless keeper and into the net.
Inter tried to respond quickly with Politano crossing for Perisic, but his header was well held by Vorm. Spurs came out in search of a second: Serge Aurier finding Erik Lamela in space, but his shot was saved. Heung-Min Son poked the ball into the net but was offside.
Pochettino brought quick-footed Lucas Moura on midway through the second half, and he stretched the Inter defence immediately by setting up a chance for Lamela that Handanovic saved again.
Spalletti tried his hand, bringing on Keita Balde for Politano. As Inter began to throw the ball forward in search of an equaliser, Radja Nainggolan had a hopeful header saved before Antonio Candreva fired just over the bar on 81 minutes.
But then, on 85 minutes, up stepped the ever-reliable Mauro Icardi with a brilliant goal to level. Kwadwo Asamoah chipped a ball back to Icardi some 25 yards out, and he lashed a volley into the corner to give Vorm no chance. What a goal!
Inter stepped up the pace in search of a winner and unbelievably it came, on 92 minutes, when Stefan de Vrij headed a corner back across goal and Matias Vecino was there to nod the ball home to spark wild celebrations in Milan.
Key Statistics
Our pre-match SBOBET tips went for Inter with a Draw No Bet caveat, and eventually, it came good for Spalletti’s boys. It was a tight match as predicted, with Spurs having 54 per cent of the ball, while Inter won the shot count by 15 to 11.
Inter now won their last three matches at home to Spurs, and there are always goals in this game, 22 in the last five meetings.
Christian Eriksen has scored three goals in his last five Champions League appearances, but this time to no avail.
What’s next?
Inter qualified for the Champions League with a last-gasp win over Lazio and they are determined to make a go of it. Keep up with the Champions League 2018 news when Inter play PSV early in October; that should be another cracker! But before that, they want to get their domestic campaign up and running. They sit at fifteenth with four points from the first four games, and a trip to 5th-placed Sampdoria will be another stiff test.
Spurs are on the way to the South coast of England to meet Brighton on Saturday. In sixth place and six points off the furious pace set by Chelsea and Liverpool, they need a win. But the Seagulls are pretty good at home and will be buoyed by a great point won at Southampton on Monday.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
