Inter Milan 0-1 Empoli: Tommaso Baldanzi strikes as 10-man hosts suffer shock defeat at San Siro
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Updated 23/01/2023 at 22:08 GMT
Inter Milan's fading hopes of mustering a Serie A title challenge suffered a huge blow as they had a man sent off and fell to a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Empoli. Milan Skriniar picked up two yellow cards before the break and Tommaso Baldanzi took advantage by hammering home the winner in the second half. Inter are now 13 points behind league leaders Napoli at the midway stage of the season.
Empoli's Italian midfielder Tommaso Baldanzi celebrates after opening the scoring during the Italian Serie A football match between Inter and Empoli on January 23, 2023 at the Giuseppa-Meazza (San Siro) stadium in Milan. (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP) (Ph
Image credit: Getty Images
Inter Milan missed out on the chance to move into second in the Serie A table after a 1-0 defeat to Empoli at the San Siro.
Inter went down to ten men in the first half when Milan Skriniar was shown two yellow cards, but Simone Inzaghi’s side still produced a lacklustre display as the visitors went on to snatch the victory thanks to driven strike in the second half from substitute Tommaso Baldanzi.
The result means Inter remain in third and one point off second-placed AC Milan. For Empoli, they move up three places into ninth after their first competitive win over Inter since 2006.
The closest chance in the entire first half fell to Empoli’s Nicolo Cambiaghi in the 12th minute, but his shot was well parried by Andre Onana.
Inter never got going in a scrappy half where five yellow cards were issued. Two of those were handed to Skriniar, who has already irritated Inter fans in the last week by rejecting the club’s offer of a contract extension.
The Slovakian’s first yellow was for a late challenge on Tyronne Ebuehi before he was rightly shown a second for a high boot into the back of Francesco Caputo’s bandaged head as he went to clear the ball.
Inter were equally sluggish in the second half and it was Empoli who deservedly went in front in the 65th minute.
Just a minute after coming off the bench, Baldanzi finished off a fine counter-attack and drilled his strike underneath Onana into the centre of the net.
Inter came closest to equalising in the 77th minute when Stefan de Vrij won a header from a corner, but his effort crashed off the crossbar.
Empoli held on for an excellent victory to end Inter’s unbeaten run which stretches back to a 2-0 loss to Juventus on November 6.
TALKING POINT – Are Inter lacking motivation?
Inter are 13 points off league leaders in the Serie A title race and perhaps the points difference played its part in their sub-par performance against a well organised Empoli side.
Team selection was arguably a factor in the defeat with Edin Dzeko and Romelu Lukaku only coming off the bench as Inzaghi opted for out-of-form Lautaro Martinez up front alongside Joaquin Correa, but Inter did not show any intensity until both strikers were brought on the pitch late on.
Simone Inzaghi will surely look to rotate his side for their trip to Cremonese on Saturday to instil some alertness back into his side.
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Milan Skriniar reacts to getting sent off after a high boot on Caputo
Image credit: Getty Images
MAN OF THE MATCH – Nicolo Cambiaghi
The Empoli forward was unlucky not to get a goal in the first half and set up Baldanzi’s goal with a well weighted pass.
PLAYER RATINGS
Inter Milan: Onana (6), Skriniar (3), De Vrij (6), Bastoni (5), Darmian (5), Barella (4), Calhanoglu (6), Mkhitaryan (5), Dimarco (5), Correa (4), Martinez (5)
Subs: Bellanova (5), Gosens (5), Dzeko (6), Asllani (N/A), Lukaku (N/A)
Empoli: Vicario (6), Ebuehi (6), De Winter (6), Luperto (6), Parisi (6), Akpa Akpro (6), Henderson (6), Bandinelli (6), Cambiaghi (7), Bajrami (7), Caputo (6)
Subs: Haas (6), Baldanzi (7), Fazzini (6), Satriano (6), Walukiewicz (N/A)
KEY MOMENTS
12' - GOOD SAVE FROM ONANA! Cambiaghi latches onto a long ball from De Winter and drills a shot on goal, but it's well parried by Onana! The following corner is cleared away at the near post.
39' - RED CARD! SKRINIAR IS SENT OFF! The Inter defender is shown a second yellow card! He brings down Caputo and referee Rapuano does not hesitate to give him his marching orders! It looks to be the correct decision from the referee as it was a high boot from the Slovakian.
57' - ANOTHER GOOD SAVE BY ONANA! Empoli counter and it's three against two. Bajrami has a shot which he drills towards the near post, but Onana gets his body behind it!
65' - GOAL! EMPOLI TAKE THE LEAD!! It's fully deserved for Empoli and it is Baldanzi who gets it seconds after coming off the bench! Bajrami lays it off to the forward and he drives his strike underneath Onana into the net!
77' - OFF THE BAR! De Vrij rises highest to meet a header from a corner but it crashes off the bar!
KEY STATS
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