Inter Milan move ahead of Genoa and Torino into seventh for the time being after defeating an ill-disciplined Udinese 2-1 at the Stadio Friuli.
A penalty from Mauro Icardi and a sublime strike from Lukas Podolski were enough for Inter to beat a nine-man Udinese side, but Antonio Di Natale moved up to sixth in Serie A’s all-time top goalscorers list with a goal early in the second half.
However, the lack of discipline shown by Udinese’s Maurizio Domizzi and Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu that will be the main talking point coming from the game. The two players threw away the Bianconeri’s hopes of claiming maximum points in front of their own fans by each being sent off before an hour was played.
Karnezis shows he has what it takes to be a top quality goalkeeper
If it were not for Greek goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis’ performance, Udinese would certainly have lost the game by more than a goal. The 29-year-old’s form is keeping Italian starlet Simone Scuffet on the bench, who enjoyed a breakout season in 2013-14 and was expected to challenge for first choice in this campaign.
Due to his age Karnezis is unlikely to be targeted by many of Europe’s elite, who tend to look more towards the future in today’s market. However, with nine saves against Inter Milan, the Greek has shown potential suitors that he has the quality to play at the highest level.
Antonio Di Natale does not seem to age
Toto Di Natale’s equaliser in the 50th minute moved him to sixth in Serie A’s all-time leading goal scorers on 205, tied with Italian sporting icon Roberto Baggio. This goal was Di Natale’s 12th of the season and he leads Udinese’s scoring charts as well as making a team-high seven assists.
In an indifferent season for the club, the Bianconeri’s talisman has been a shining light along with Karnezis, and if it were not for him the club would be sitting lower than 13th in the table. Long may Toto Di Natale live in the memory of the Zebrette’s fans.
Udinese show they lack the right temperament
Udinese’s first half performance from a defensive perspective was very impressive; the back-four was tight and barely let anything slip through. The Nerazzurri, who were heavily in control against their opponents, could only threaten Karnezis’ goal from distance.
However, a moment of petulance from journeyman Domizzi earned him a yellow card for dissent in the 25th minute. He would come to regret this act as he stupidly slid into a tackle he was never going to win on Hernanes fifteen minutes later, forcing referee Gianluca Rocchi to send him off with a second yellow.
It was Badu’s sending off that would annoy manager Andrea Stramaccioni the most though, given his side had just equalised after conceding the first goal. The Ghanaian, like Domizzi, needlessly got booked for dissent, but then reacted towards the referee, earning him a straight red card and leaving his team down to nine men. Less than ten minutes later, Podolski scored the winner for Inter.
Podolski can contribute to Inter’s 2014-15 season
The World Cup Winner’s performances so far since arriving at Inter on loan from Arsenal in January have been underwhelming. However in his 13th Serie A appearance for the club, the German struck the winner seconds after coming on. With only his second touch of the ball, Podolski combined power with finesse, curling in a wonderful effort from the edge of the box and leaving the outstanding Karnezis with no chance of saving it.
It now seems that the German is finding his feet in Serie A. In Inter Milan’s victory against Roma a few days ago, Podolski played an integral role in his side emerging victorious, setting up Icardi’s winner in terrific fashion. If the Polish-born German international can continue to impact upon games as he has done in the last two, then his loan signing may turn out to be a success.
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