Frattesi’s Goal and Tactical Brilliance
January 6, MILAN, Italy (Identity Newsroom) – In a thrilling match on Saturday, Inter Milan defeated Hellas Verona 2-1 thanks to a goal from substitute Davide Frattesi in extra time. Verona had missed a late penalty.
When Inter visits Salernitana on Sunday, they will have a five-point advantage over second-place Juventus, meaning Simone Inzaghi’s team will have won the Winter Champions championship.
Frattesi gave the home team the lead back before Henry missed a last-second penalty. Lautaro Martinez had given Inter the lead early on, and Thomas Henry had tied the score late in the second half.
“We did what we had prepared, maybe not always very well, but we take these three points with the awareness that we have Juventus behind us and that we have to continue to win games,” Martinez stated on Inter TV.
This was a win that summed everything up
Frattesi
“This is a fantastic group. Even the players who don’t play as much feel important like the rest of the team.”
The former Sassuolo midfielder said that “In a long season, that’s important.”
And of his celebration after the goal, Frattesi said that “I wanted to do a lot more than just climb the gate.”
“But I wanted to avoid a second booking,” the midfielder admitted.
Frattesi said of his goal that “It was like the goal I scored against Real Sociedad.”
“I saw the ball in a flash, I had a bit of a scuffed effort, and then there was a bit of luck.”
As far as his playing time this season, Frattesi said that “It was tough at first. I was used to playing all the time.”
“Playing as a mezzala, I don’t always have 100% energy,” he added.
This goal gives me confidence. I hope I can give even more to the team
Frattesi
Verona dropped to the relegation zone in 18th place with 14 points as a result of the loss.
Martinez gave Inter the lead in the 13th minute when he calmly fired a low effort past goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipo into the corner after Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s assist placed the Argentine striker in the box ahead of defender Josh Doig.
Martinez has scored 16 goals in 17 league games, putting him well ahead of Domenico Berardi of Sassuolo in the Serie A scoring standings. Berardi had missed the previous two games due to injury.
At halftime, Mkhitaryan stated, “Lautaro is very important for us. Scoring was crucial, but now we have to close out the game.”
Three minutes after the half, Martinez did have the ball in the net, but Francesco Acerbi was called offside.
Rather, Henry—who had just been on the field for a minute—got a touch with his knee to Ondrej Duda’s pass to beat goalkeeper Yann Sommer, and Verona equalized.
Inter appeared destined to settle for a second straight draw after Marko Arnautovic blew two opportunities to extend their advantage.
But there was plenty of drama in added time when Alessandro Bastoni’s volley struck the crossbar and, in the 93rd minute, replacement Frattesi scored after Montipo parried Nicolo Barella’s follow-up long drive.
Darko Lazovic’s red card for talking to the referee before halftime reduced Verona to ten men, but the visitors still had an opportunity to equalize with a penalty.
Henry had a chance to score his second after Matteo Darmian fouled, but his spot kick struck the post and Inter survived, with Michael Folorunsho heading the rebound wide.
We should have been better there too. I watched it. We should be the ones on the rebound, not Folorunsho. We were fortunate that he showed up instead of several Inter players following Henry’s kick.
Inter manager Simone Inzaghi
