Inter’s Icardi profits from error to net winner

EINDHOVEN: Mauro Icardi took advantage of an error from PSV Eindhoven goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet to gift Inter Milan a 2-1 victory in their Champions League Group B clash on Wednesday.

Inter made it two wins from two and inflicted a second defeat on the Dutch side as Radja Nainggolan fired in an equaliser after Pablo Rosario scored his first goal in three years to give PSV the lead.

The victory was deserved on the balance of play, though PSV can point to bad luck in crucial moments and will feel somewhat aggrieved, as shown by the plastic bottles that were launched from the stands on to the pitch late in the match.

The home side went in front on 27 minutes when Dutch junior international Rosario thundered his drive from 30 yards into the top corner with Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic rooted to the spot.

There was a moment of controversy five minutes before the break when Handanovic raced out of his box and handled the ball as Steven Bergwijn played it past him, earning the gloveman a yellow card. He was fortunate it was not red with Bergwijn probably free on goal but for his intervention.

With the home crowd still seething, Inter levelled just before the break when Zoet could only parry Kwadwo Asamoah’s shot and the ball fell for Nainggolan to smash into the net from the edge of the box.

PSV were unfortunate not to be in front shortly after halftime when Gaston Pereiro crashed his shot from the edge of the box against the post.

But it was the visitors who scored next just before the hourmark as Icardi took advantage of uncertainty in the PSV defence to latch on to a long-ball and as Zoet collided with defender Daniel Schwaab, the Argentine forward side-footed into the empty net.

Handanovic made a stunning stop to deny PSV substitute Donyell Malen an equaliser from an overhead kick, the acrobatic effort matched by the save from the Slovenian keeper which earned his side all three points.