Inter survive late VAR scare to squeeze past struggling Venezia in Serie A
While Inter have not always been at their imperious best as they aim to defend their SA title, they had the chance to move within a point of league leaders Napoli here with a victory.
If this clash was anything like the 4-4 draw with Juventus last week, then those in attendance would be treated to a truly captivating clash, but while the first half was hardly a bore, it lacked the same goalmouth action.
Inter were the more dangerous of the two sides, with Lautaro Martínez volleying narrowly wide of the post and Marcus Thuram hammering into the side netting from close range, while Filip Stanković got down well to keep out Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s fierce effort.
Despite their domination, only a point-blank Yann Sommer save stopped Gaetano Oristiano from giving the visitors the lead shortly before the break.
Shortly after the restart, it appeared Inter had taken the lead when Mkhitaryan swept home Federico Dimarco’s cross with a first-time effort, but the strike was ruled out for an offside in the build-up.
That decision almost cost Inter shortly after when Sommer denied Joel Pohjanpalo as Venezia aimed to take a surprise lead.
In response, Simone Inzaghi’s men continued to push forward, and eventually had the goal they yearned for when Martínez headed Dimarco’s delightful cross into the back of the net to score his first goal at home since February.
Dimarco was proving to be a real threat, and another fantastic cross allowed Marcus Thuram to test Stanković, though the keeper was equal to the task.
Although the margin of Inter’s lead was slender, the opener initially knocked the stuffing out of Venezia, and while an equaliser always looked unlikely, they did have the ball in the net deep into stoppage time.
Marvin Šverko's effort was eventually ruled out by VAR however, ensuring that the Nerazzurri saw out a win that takes them to within touching distance of early pace-setters Napoli after 11 rounds. Venezia, meanwhile, stay in the relegation zone as a result with just eight points.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan)
