Inter signals title intent as Icardi rocks Roma

MILAN, Italy - Mauro Icardi scored a second-half brace as Inter Milan rocked Roma 3-1 at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday to send out a statement of intent to its Serie A title rivals.

An early opener from Edin Dzeko, Serie A's top scorer last season with 29 goals, had a packed Olimpico jumping in anticipation of Roma starting its home campaign with a win.

But the host, playing under the watchful eye of new club director Francesco Totti, was stunned into silence in a thrilling second half.

Inter followed Juventus - a 4-2 comeback winner at Genoa on Saturday thanks to a Paulo Dybala hat-trick - in making it back-to-back victories and also vindicated its new coach Luciano Spalletti.

Spalletti brought his second spell in charge of Roma to an end last season when the saga surrounding club legend Totti's possible retirement weighed heavily on his shoulders.

Spalletti moved to Inter determined to make a fresh start with an underperforming side, who finished seventh and out of European competition altogether.

And in only two games, he has won over the Inter faithful. Saturday's win, a week after a 3-0 triumph over Fiorentina, was Inter's first at Roma since 2008.

"Roma played well, they were unlucky hitting the woodwork so often, but sometimes luck goes the way of the side which has the courage to do the running," Spalletti told Mediaset Premium.

"We, too, made mistakes but we kept digging away, we never stopped pouring forward and in the end we were repaid."

Yet, trailing 1-0 and having seen Roma's Aleksandar Kolarov and Radja Nainggolan both denied by the post in the opening half, there was little to suggest Spalletti's side would launch a comeback.

Inter escaped trial by video assistant referee (VAR) in the 55th minute when Milan Skriniar appeared to trip Diego Perotti in the penalty area.

Perotti was furious and told Premium Sport: "Of course we're angry.

"Hitting the woodwork three times and then not getting a penalty? We have the VAR, a new technology, but to what use?"

Roma hit the woodwork for the third time in the 65th minute when a Perotti drive bounced off the inside of the far top corner.

Two minutes later, even Icardi appeared surprised to see Antonio Candreva's threaded pass land at his feet, but the Argentine striker swivelled to send a low shot past Roma goalkeeper Alisson.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 08/28/2017 page23)