Napoli 3-1 Inter Milan: Giovanni Di Lorenzo stunner seals win for Serie A champions

Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s late strike earned Napoli the three points as they eventually saw off 10-man Inter Milan 3-1.

The Nerazzurri had looked likely to pick up a point when Romelu Lukaku equalised late on, but Napoli had other ideas, as their captain curled home from outside the box with five minutes left.

The first half was played largely at a pedestrian pace, with neither ‘keeper tested until midway through the period, when Victor Osimhen’s header was comfortably saved by Andre Onana.

At the other end, Simone Inzaghi’s side offered next to nothing going forward, hampered by defending deep and having no attacking outlet when they won possession. Their task was made even harder when they were reduced to 10 men, Roberto Gagliardini picking up his second yellow card in the space of 22 minutes just before the break.

Napoli tried to make use of the extra man after half-time, and after Di Lorenzo and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had seen shots saved, they finally opened the scoring through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa.

Inter initially showed little by way of a response, but after Denzel Dumfries had seen a header cleared off the line, Lukaku equalised by stabbing home from close range. However, it all meant nothing when Di Lorenzo picked out the top corner shortly afterwards.

Gianluca Gaetano put a seal on things, with a goal in injury time earning Napoli another impressive home win.

TALKING POINT – Did Inter take their eye off the ball?

It could be argued that Inter Milan have bigger fish to fry this season, given they face Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday, and have a Champions League final on the horizon.

However, their place in the top four in Serie A is far from certain, with this defeat leaving them only two points clear of city rivals AC, who sit fifth.

It was therefore a surprise to see Inzaghi make eight changes to the starting XI who beat AC in Europe in midweek, opting to rest numerous first-team players, presumably with future games in mind.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Napoli)

The midfielder is not known for his goalscoring prowess, but he was a constant threat to Inter all afternoon, missing a couple of chances in the first half.

After the break, it was his terrific strike that broke the deadlock, picked out near the penalty spot before pivoting and firing into the back of the net.

The Cameroon international was also a crucial cog as Napoli controlled the tempo of the game in midfield, and can be very pleased with his performance.

PLAYER RATINGS

NAPOLI: Meret 6; Di Lorenzo 8, Rrahmani 7, Kim 7, Olivera 6; Anguissa 8, Lobotka 6; Elmas 6, Zielinski 6, Kvaratskhelia 7; Osimhen 6. Subs: Simeone 6, Raspadori 7, Jesus 6, Gaetano 7, Politano n/a

INTER MILAN: Onana 7; D’Ambrosio 6, De Vrij 6, Bastoni 6; Bellanova 5, Gagliardini 3, Asllani 5, Barella 6, Gosens 5; Lukaku 7, Correa 6. Subs: Brozovic 6, Acerbi 6, Dimarco 6, Dumfries 6, Martinez n/a

KEY MOMENTS

41’ RED CARD! He could have picked up his second yellow ten minutes ago – well now he has. Gagliardini puts in a terrible tackle on Anguissa right in front of the referee, who immediately issues another caution, followed by a red. Inter are down to ten men

47’ DI LORENZO SHOT SAVED. Another clever dead-ball routine from Napoli and Zielinski plays it short to the near post to Di Lorenzo, who sees his shot saved at the near post

66’ TERRIFIC ONANA SAVE. That was Kvaratskhelia at his best, skipping into the area, dipping on to his right foot and sending a curling effort towards the far corner, but Onana makes a flying save

66’ GOAL! NAPOLI 1-0 INTER (Anguissa). Deadlock broken at last, and it’s Anguissa who does it! The midfielder beautifully collects possession near the penalty spot, taking one touch to control, and spinning and firing into the bottom corner with his second. Advantage Napoli

79’ GOAL DISALLOWED. Simeone has the ball in the back of the net after an unselfish pass by Kvaratskhelia, but it’s been ruled out, harshly, for a foul earlier in the move

81′ GOAL! NAPOLI 1-1 INTER MILAN (Romelu Lukaku) Inter are level! Lukaku hasn’t had too many touches in the penalty area, but the ten-men equalise as the striker meets Dimarco’s cross, stabbing home from the edge of the six yard box

85’ GOAL! NAPOLI 2-1 INTER (Di Lorenzo). Oh what a goal! That is sensational! Napoli’s lead is restored by their captain, who curls into the top corner with his left foot. Stunning. Surely that’s game over!

90+4’ GOAL! NAPOLI 3-1 INTER MILAN (GAETANO). And there is the third! Inter leave themselves open on the counter-attack and Gaetano bags his first goal for the club as he slides home from inside the box

KEY STATS

• Napoli end a run of seven games without a win over Inter
• This is Inter Milan’s first defeat in 14 outings in all competitions, ending a run of eight straight victories