Icardi misses penalty as Inter loses to Cagliari
Inter Milan captain Mauro Icardi can do no right, it seems, and yesterday added a missed a penalty to his woes as his side was beaten 2-1 by Cagliari.
Icardi had had a fantastic start to the season, with six goals in seven matches, but angered the Inter ultras with comments in his autobiography, which the fans called “lies” in a lengthy statement. The Argentina forward attempted to placate the fans with a statement of his own on social media but he was jeered as he walked out ahead of the match, and was greeted by insulting banners about him in the San Siro.
Inter fans even cheered after Icardi sent his penalty woefully wide of the right post in the 26th minute after he had been pushed over by Bruno Alves. Joao Mario gave Inter the lead 10 minutes after halftime, finding Ivan Perisic and then racing into the box to collect the return pass. Cagliari goalkeeper Marco Storari saved his initial effort but Joao Mario tapped in the rebound. However, Federico Melchiorri leveled in the 71st and had a hand in the second, five minutes from time, as his deflected cross was turned in by Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic. Melchiorri has now scored two goals in his only two Serie A matches after a difficult few years that saw him undergo brain surgery and also return from a serious knee injury. Cagliari, which won the second division last season, moved above Inter into seventh spot.
LAZIO 1 BOLOGNA 1
Lazio could have moved second in Serie A, instead it needed a controversial last-gasp penalty to rescue a point against Bologna. Bologna took the lead in the 10th minute when Simone Verdi whipped in a free kick from the right flank and Filip Helander stretched out a leg to poke it past Federico Marchetti at the far post.
Lazio, which also hit the woodwork, thought it had leveled in the 69th but goalline technology showed the ball had not crossed the line sparing the blushes of Erick Pulgar, whose backpass set up the chance.The capital club did level in the sixth minute of stoppage time when Ciro Immobile converted from the spot with the last kick of the game. However, television replays showed it was a harsh decision against Bologna defender Marios Oikonomou because Lazio defender Wallace appeared to dive.
Lazio moved third, above Napoli on goal difference, but could be overtaken by AC Milan or Chievo Verona, which play later. Bottom club Crotone appeared to be heading for its first ever Serie A win after on-loan forward Diego Falcinelli gave it a second-minute lead against his parent club Sassuolo. However, substitutes Stefano Sensi and Pietro Iemmello scored in the final seven minutes to pull out a 21 win. Both teams also hit the woodwork twice. Elsewhere, 10-man Genoa drew 0-0 against Empoli, as did Fiorentina against Atalanta.