Inter Milan: Serie A Champion Denied By Stoppage-Time Equaliser

According to the Guardian, Inter Milan’s defense of their Serie A title began unsteadily as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Genoa at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. The result, marked by a dramatic last-minute equalizer from Junior Messias, highlighted the challenges facing Inter in a season where they aim to retain their crown despite notable absences.

With key defenders Stefan de Vrij and midfielder Piotr Zielinski sidelined, Inter struggled to find their rhythm. Genoa, freshly promoted to Serie A, took advantage of Inter’s slow start. Alessandro Vogliacco capitalized on a defensive lapse, scoring from a rebound off the crossbar in the 20th minute, giving the hosts an early lead and unsettling the visitors.

However, Inter responded quickly through Marcus Thuram, who showed his prowess in the air by heading in a well-placed cross from Niccolo Barella just ten minutes later. Thuram, who was brought in during the summer transfer window, has already begun repaying Inter’s faith with his timely goals and has quickly become a key figure in their attack.

Controversy struck later in the first half when Thuram appeared to be fouled by Genoa captain Milan Badelj in the penalty area. However, after a VAR review, the referee overturned the initial decision, denying Inter a potential go-ahead goal.

In the second half, Inter intensified their efforts, seeking to capitalize on their dominance in possession. Federico Dimarco thought he had given Inter the lead when he found the back of the net, but his goal was ruled out for offside, frustrating the Nerazzurri’s attempts to pull ahead.

Their persistence paid off in the 84th minute when Thuram latched onto a through ball and expertly chipped it over Genoa’s goalkeeper, Pierluigi Gollini, giving Inter what seemed to be a decisive lead. The goal, Thuram’s second of the match, showcased his composure and finishing ability, further highlighting his importance to Inter’s campaign.

However, in a dramatic turn of events during stoppage time, Genoa equalized. A defensive error from Inter saw Yann Bisseck handle the ball in the box, leading to a penalty. Although Yann Sommer, Inter’s new goalkeeper signed to replace André Onana, initially saved Messias’s spot-kick, the Brazilian was quick to pounce on the rebound, tapping it in to secure a point for Genoa.

After the match, Inter manager Simone Inzaghi didn’t hide his disappointment: “A team like ours, leading in the 84th minute, shouldn’t concede any more goals, especially in that way. Football owes you nothing. Today we had to give a bit more.

“Credit to Genoa, but it’s a draw that doesn’t leave us much satisfaction given what we created. Winning [the title] is difficult, winning it again even more so. The boys know it, they are mature enough and that’s why I’m disappointed.”

Inter’s inability to secure three points highlights the challenges they may face in their quest to retain the Scudetto. The match also underscored the growing importance of Thuram in their lineup, but it also revealed vulnerabilities, particularly in defense, that Inzaghi will need to address.

In another Serie A clash, AC Milan also had to settle for a 2-2 draw at home against Torino. Milan, who have invested heavily in their squad during the transfer window, found themselves trailing after a series of defensive mishaps. Raoul Bellanova’s header in the 30th minute struck the post, and in the ensuing chaos, Malick Thiaw’s attempted clearance ended up in his own net.

Torino doubled their advantage in the 68th minute when Duván Zapata, newly acquired from Atalanta, scored with a close-range header from Valentino Lazaro’s pinpoint cross. Torino’s disciplined defense and Milan’s failure to convert chances seemed to seal the result in favor of the visitors.

However, Milan mounted a late comeback. Álvaro Morata, who returned to Serie A this season, deflected Tijjani Reijnders’ long-range shot into the net just before stoppage time, giving Milan hope. The San Siro crowd erupted moments later when Noah Okafor, another of Milan’s new signings, smashed in a volley deep into stoppage time to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat.

Milan manager Stefano Pioli praised his team’s resilience but acknowledged the need for improvement: “We showed great character to come back, but we cannot afford to start games so slowly. We need to be sharper from the first minute if we want to challenge for the title.”

The results leave both Milanese clubs with plenty to ponder as they seek to assert themselves in what promises to be a fiercely competitive Serie A season. While the draws may not have been the desired outcomes, they serve as early reminders of the unpredictability and intensity of Italy’s top-flight football Continue>.