Inter surges past Genoa to move closer to title
Inter Milan stretched its lead at the top of Serie A to 15 points with a 2-1 win against Genoa thanks to first-half goals from Kristjan Asllani and Alexis Sanchez at San Siro.
Asllani broke the deadlock on the half-hour after receiving Sanchez's through ball and blasting the ball into the roof of the net after a lung-busting run into the box.
Eight minutes later, Sanchez himself doubled the lead from the penalty spot after Morten Frendrup fouled Nicolo Barella, although VAR suggested the decision, which was given on field initially, might have been harsh.
Genoa, who arguably had the best of the early chances, did drag one goal back nine minutes into the second half when Johan Vasquez sent a searing volley past Yann Sommer after defender Stefan De Vrij had cleared a cross, but the visitors were inable to find an equaliser as Inter held on to move closer to claiming the Scudetto.
Inter now has 72 points after second-placed Juventus lost 2-1 at Napoli 24 hours earlier, leaving it on 57 points. Genoa, meanwhile, sits in 12th with 33 points with little left to play for this season.
Inter was frustrated through the opening quarter with the hosts coming closest when Nicolo Barella pounced on Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s long ball but guided over the crossbar.
Genoa came close to breaking the deadlock after Stefano Sabelli’s cross was powerfully headed towards goal by Mateo Retegui but Sommer saved. The rebound fell into the path of Albert Gudmundsson who diverted wide.
Inter had the breakthrough on the half-hour mark when Sanchez’s through ball found Asllani, who smashed emphatically into the roof of the net to make it 1-0.
The hosts had a chance to double their lead when Lautaro Martinez picked out Barella, who was adjudged to have been fouled inside the area by Morten Frendrup and a spot-kick was awarded.
Sanchez stepped up for the penalty and powered into the right side of the net, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Inter was smelling blood and could have had three when Mkhitaryan raced through on goal and let fly only to see his goalbound shot blocked by Johan Vasquez.
Genoa had a route back into the game nine minutes after the break after de Vrij’s defensive header looped straight into the path of Vasquez who arrowed his volley into the bottom right corner.
The visitors thought they had an equaliser when Vitinha cut inside and picked out the bottom corner but the assistant referee’s offside flag cut celebrations short with 20 minutes to go.
Genoa came close once again but Tottenham Hotspur loanee Djed Spence’s cross was glanced wide by Retegui and Inter held its nerve to edge closer to the Serie A title.
