Domenico Berardi converted a stoppage time penalty as Sassuolo defied the odds with a 1-0 defeat of Inter Milan at the San Siro on Sunday.
Roberto Mancini’s men threatened the Neroverdi goal constantly throughout the 90 minutes, however, were unable to overcome an inspired Andrea Consigli between the posts. Adem Ljajic created and was also on the end of the bulk of the chances for the home side.
Despite making several acrobatic stops himself, Samir Handanovic was eventually beaten by a last-gasp spot kick that resulted due to errors from the otherwise excellent João Miranda and Jeison Murillo.
The loss means Inter are likely to be knocked off the summit of the table with Juventus and Napoli playing later in the day, while the side from the province of Modena has climbed above AC Milan and into sixth place.
Inter unfortunate in defeat
Luck has been with the Nerazzurri for much of the season.
Last week they claimed their ninth 1-0 victory of the current campaign from the side’s only effort on target, yet what transpired in this match was the exact opposite.
Unlike Inter so far this term, the Milanese outfit was fluid in attack and created several opportunities, though failed to find the back of the net. Their opponents, on the other hand, threatened mostly from set-pieces, yet somehow found a way past an excellent goalkeeper in Handanovic in the end.
It appears Mancini’s men were given a taste of their own medicine in this encounter, and despite being downbeat about a late loss can take heart in the fact they played with a rare attacking intent and positivity.
Ljajic wasteful, though encouraging
The Serbian was his diminutive self during the match and was at the heart of almost every chance Inter created throughout the 90 minutes. Linking up well with teammates and threatening both from distance and from inside the box, the 24-year-old was a menace the Sassuolo defence could barely handle.
In saying this, however, many a guilt-edged opportunity was passed up by Ljajic, and had he taken those Inter most likely would have finished the game as winners and on 42 points, rather than 39.
Especially in the first-half, the former Fiorentina man failed to hit the target from close range, and his profligacy in front of goal cost his side in the end. On a more positive note though, he was the Nerazzurri’s best player on the day and has been key to much of their success this season.
Both goalkeepers excellent throughout the match
This encounter was one where both glovemen stole the spotlight and especially in Consigli’s case, were key figures in influencing the result.
Handanovic, coming into the game with a save percentage of 85% (the highest in the league), was his usual fantastic self at the Giuseppe Meazza, parrying and palming set-piece after set-piece and stopping an early goal-bound opportunity from close range. Consigli, though, was even better and was tested on a more regular basis to the 31-year-old Slovenian, denying Ljajic alone on several occasions as well as Stevan Jovetic and Geoffrey Kondogbia in the second-half.
Both have been superb for their respective sides this season and may possibly shape the title race, as Handanovic ensures Inter remain in the hunt, while Consigli helped consign the Nerazzurri to a potentially season-derailing defeat.
Miranda and Murillo perfect apart from late errors
All day both South American centre-backs had been impassable, much like they had been for most of the current campaign so far.
The pair made crucial tackles, interceptions and blocks that helped keep Handanovic from having to do more work, though one moment in the dying seconds of the game had a dire consequence on the match’s result.
Murillo’s missed header allowed the ball to go in behind Miranda, who was the last man and on the wrong side of Grégoire Defrel, with the Brazilian eventually bringing down the Sassuolo attacker in the box. The resulting penalty was converted, displaying the cruel nature of football.
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