‘Chinese’ Internazionale thanks Denzel Dumfries in the final minute for full loot

Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 8:01 PM• Tom Rofekamp • Last update: 20:08

Internazionale barely took the full pound on Saturday evening in the Serie A title race. In its own Giuseppe Meazza, the leader still fell behind against low-flyer Venezia, and only managed to bend that to 2-1 in the final minute. Denzel Dumfries, who came in in the last fifteen minutes, gave the assist on Edin Dzeko’s winning goal with a nice cross. With this, Inter is five points away from direct pursuer AC Milan, which plays the squatter against Juventus on Sunday. Stefan de Vrij started in the base at i Nerazzurri and stood there for ninety minutes.

Inter, which played in special shirts because of the Chinese New Year, went hunting for the opening goal from minute one. After eight minutes and a few untargeted shots, Venezia closing post Luca Lezzerini had to intervene seriously for the first time on an attempt by Dzeko. Inter continued to besiege the hostile penalty area; the 0-1 came from a vacuum. In Venezia’s very first attack, Ethan Ampadu hurled the ball in front of Samir Handanovic’s goal, where Thomas Henry headed in hard. It completely knocked Inter off the leg. Nicolo Barella and Alessandro Bastoni took unnecessary yellow cards while Venezia got the upper hand. The home team mainly tried to force a breakthrough with crosses from the wings.

It came five minutes before halftime. Dumfries’ competitor Matteo Darmian gave a great pass to Ivan Perisic, who initially finished against Lezzerini. Barella was attentive to the rebound: 1-1. Dzeko unsuccessfully claimed a penalty after an alleged handball, before referee Matteo Marcetti whistled before the break. After the break it immediately became clear what Venezia was after. The number seventeen of the Serie A continuously grouped with five men around the sixteen meter area, which Inter had to break through. De Vrij almost succeeded after 57 minutes. The Dutchman headed from a free kick by Calhanoglu at the feet of Lezzerini; the rebound was shot just over the bar by Dzeko.

Darmian also came close, but again Lezzerini emerged as the winner. On the other side, David Okereke had the chance to give Venezia the lead for the second time that evening, only this time Handanovic was attentive. The five thousand supporters present saw Lezzerini save his team one last time, before the game seemed to bleed to death. Dumfries, who has now come in, changed that, by giving the ball high to Dzeko in the final minute. The Bosnian nodded excellently and let the home crowd explode. Arturo Vidal even came close to the 3-1 in extremis, which, however, would not fall again.