Ihattaren sees Sampdoria inflict first damage on Internazionale

Sunday, September 12, 2021 at 2:28 PM• Yanick Vos

Internazionale failed to win a visit to Sampdoria on Sunday afternoon: 2-2. The visitors took the lead twice, but the home team showed resilience. In the second half in particular, both teams had chances to win the game, but no more goals were scored and Inter suffered a loss of points for the first time this season.

On the side of Internazionale, Stefan de Vrij was in the starting line-up, while Denzel Dumfries had to settle for a place on the bench. His former PSV teammate Mohamed Ihattaren was in Sampdoria’s match selection for the first time. The midfielder, attracted by Juventus and based in Genoa, saw his team fall behind after more than fifteen minutes of play due to a fantastic goal from Federico Dimarco. The defender shot a free kick into the corner untenable.

Sampdoria regularly reported in its own Stadio Luigi Ferraris for the goal of Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic. Partly due to good defensive work by De Vrij, there were no great opportunities. However, after more than half an hour of play, the home team tied the score. Maya Yoshida got the ball at his feet and saw his bet changed direction via Edin Dzeko, leaving Handanovic without a chance. Still, Inter went to rest with a 1-2 lead. After excellent preparatory work by Nicolò Barella, Lautaro Martínez cleverly scored from the volley.

Less than two minutes into the second half when Sampdoria came alongside. Bartosz Bereszynski cut himself free on the right wing, before giving a high cross to Tommaso Augello at the far post. The latter did not hesitate for a moment and shot the ball from the air against the ropes in a beautiful way. The visitors then had several chances to take the lead; Hakan Calhanoglu, among others, was close by. The Turkish international was allowed to go far and eventually shot just wide from the edge of the penalty area.

With half an hour left on the clock, Inter lost control of the game. The 3-2 hung in the air towards the final phase before the 2-3. Simone Inzaghi intervened and brought in Dumfries, among others. He immediately showed himself with his first contact with the ball. The rising right-back offered Joaquin Correa a great opportunity, but he shot high. In the final phase, the game went back and forth and both teams had opportunities to take control of the game. Inter had to make do with one man less during that period, because Stefano Sensi had injured his knee and Inzaghi had made all his substitutions. Inter had their backs against the wall, but held their ground and take a point to Milan.