Inter had a few scares, but Danilo D’Ambrosio and Mauro Icardi secured a 2-0 Europa League win over Qarabag.
Inter had a few scares, but Danilo D’Ambrosio and Mauro Icardi secured a 2-0 Europa League win over Qarabag.
The Nerazzurri needed a boost after their shock 4-1 home defeat to Cagliari on Sunday and welcomed the champions of Azerbaijan. So far in the Europa League, including preliminary rounds, Inter had won every game and not conceded a single goal, whereas Qarabag held Saint-Etienne to a 0-0 result in matchday one. Mateo Kovacic, Jonathan, Dodo and Hugo Campagnaro missed out, while the visitors had to do without Chumbinho and Danilo Dias in midfield.
Surprisingly, Qarabag took the initiative and held the early possession at San Siro, Reynaldo forcing Juan Jesus to charge down his shot in the box after a throw-in.
However, the hosts broke through with their first shot on goal, as a Danilo D’Ambrosio strike took a deflection to go in off the underside of the crossbar.
Andrea Ranocchia volleyed over from 14 yards on a set play, while a Hernanes glancing header was well smothered. Reynaldo found himself in a dangerous position, but again couldn’t get past Juan Jesus.
D’Ambrosio’s cross was spilled by the goalkeeper, but Admir Teli stopped Fredy Guarin making the most of the howler.
However, Inter were caught on the counter from that corner and Reynaldo sprinted past Juan Jesus, prodding just wide of an open goal as Juan Pablo Carrizo rushed off his line.
Reynaldo threatened again, his shot charged down by Ranocchia and Inter were jeered off the field at half-time despite leading 1-0.
The second half started in similar fashion, Vuqar Nadirov just unable to get his head to a dangerous cross from the left.
Mauro Icardi made his first real contribution to the game on 57 minutes, unleashing a blockbuster from distance that Ibrahim Sehic flew to palm out from under the bar.
There was bad news for Inter, as Hernanes was stretchered off with a suspected sprained ankle and Guarin also limped on to the touchline. Carrizo struggled to deal with a poor backpass and Icardi fired wide when sent clear by Joel Obi.
Inter finally got some security in the game with a classic counter, as Daniel Osvaldo set up Icardi for a fierce angled drive across the goalkeeper.
Inter 2-0 Qarabag
Scorers: D’Ambrosio 17 (I), Icardi 85 (I)
Inter: Carrizo; Andreolli, Ranocchia, Juan Jesus; D’Ambrosio, Hernanes (Obi 72), M’Vila, Kuzmanovic (Medel 59), Nagatomo; Guarin (Osvaldo 63); Icardi
Qarabag: Sehic; Gurbanov (Sadygov 68), Teli, Guseynov, Agolli; Qarayev, Yusifov (Nadirov 54); Muarem, Richard Almeida, George (Taghiyev 62); Reynaldo
Ref: Kulbakov (BLR)