F O IL E D A T T H E DEATH
Simeone denies Inter with last-gasp equaliser
MILAN
INTER Milan’s frustrating Serie A run continued on Friday when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Fiorentina by a lastgasp equaliser from Giovanni Simeone.
Inter went ahead in the 55th minute with a goal from their leading scorer Mauro Icardi, his 18th in Serie A this season, only for Simeone, son of Atletico Madrid coach Diego, to snatch a deserved point for Fiorentina in the 90th minute.
Third-placed Inter were left on 42 points, six behind leaders Napoli and five adrift of secondplaced Juventus, after extending their winless run in the league to five matches.
Inter Milan coach Luciano Spalletti admitted that Fiorentina deserved a point but was angered when he was asked in the postmatch interview if his team needed reinforcements.
“I’m not saying anything because then I’m the one who has to go into the dressing-room and tell the lads they are not good enough,” he said.
“It’s clear to everyone that we’re short of a central defender... that’s been known since the start of the season... even my mother knows that.”
Seventh-placed Fiorentina should have been out of sight by halftime but wasted numerous promising counter-attacks.
Simeone was close in the second minute and Cyril Thereau squandered two chances when he fired both attempts over the bar from free positions.
Inter survived more scares after the break before going ahead, Icardi reacting incredibly quickly to score at the second attempt after his bullet header was parried by Marco Sportiello.
Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic saved Federico Chiesa’s deflected shot with his leg and tipped over an overhead kick by Khouma Babacar.
However, the Slovenian was powerless when Simeone fired home from close range after being set up by a short pass from quick-thinking substitute Valentin Eysseric inside the area.
Chievo had a goal chalked off by the video replay system as they were held 1-1 at home by Udinese in the evening’s other match.
Ivan Radovanovic fired Chievo ahead after nine minutes and the Flying Donkeys thought they had gone two goals ahead shortly afterwards.
Fabrizio Cacciatore headed in at the near post, Chievo celebrated and Udinese, who made no protest over the goal, were ready to re-start when the referee signalled a replay by drawing a television image in the air.
After a lengthy delay, the goal was disallowed for offside against Cacciatore.
There was further frustration for Chievo as Nenad Tomovic turned the ball into his own net four minutes before halftime. Reuters