Sanchez brace keeps Inter Milan in command of Serie A
Inter Milan moved six points clear at the top of Serie A with a hard-fought 2-1 win over strugglers Parma on Thursday night.
Alexis Sanchez scored twice to give Inter a considerable advantage in the title race as the Milan club bolstered their hopes of winning Serie A for the first time since 2010. Parma’s wait for their first win since November 30 continues as Hernani’s volley late on proved to be only a consolation.
𝔼𝕝 ℕ𝕚ñ𝕠 𝕄𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕧𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕒 ⚽⚽😊#ParmaInter #FORZAINTER ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/Yl9RsHvyjp
— Inter (@Inter_en) March 4, 2021
Parma began brightly after the fireworks at kick-off and they saw a strong penalty appeal turned down when Dennis Man, on his first start for the Serie A strugglers, went down in the box under a challenge from Nicolo Barella. The Parma striker attempted a shot while the Inter man tried to make a last-ditch clearance. Ultimately, VAR decided to allow play to continue.
In a game Inter were expected to dominate from the off, it was their goalkeeper Samir Handanovic who was called into action in the 15th minute, making a smart reflex save to repel a free header for Jasmin Kurtic.
In the 38th minute, Romelu Lukaku missed the best Inter chance of the half as the visitors finally began to ramp up the pressure following their insipid start. The Belgium international was slipped through by Marcelo Brozovic, but his low strike on his weaker right foot was expertly parried behind by Luigi Sepe.
Inter responded well after the break and broke the deadlock in the 55th minute through Sanchez, whose close-range shot was parried by Sepe’s outstretched arm, but it still sneaked just over the line.
Two minutes later and Ivan Perisic elected to blast a close-range shot over the bar instead of squaring to a furious Lukaku.
𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐢! 🙌#ParmaInter 1⃣-2⃣#FORZAINTER ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/y7ijwITTmE
— Inter (@Inter_en) March 4, 2021
Read Also: Iheanacho nets Goal Of The Season Contender with amazing volley
But the striker would soon turn provider. On the counter-attack, Lukaku laid the ball off to Sanchez to slot in his second of the night.
Parma pulled a goal back through Hernani, who confidently volleyed home a chipped Giuseppe Pezzella cross from close range with less than 20 minutes to play, but Inter held on for the vital victory.