Southampton 2-1 Inter Milan: Saints rally to overcome three-time European champions
Last Updated: 03/11/16 11:07pm
V van Dijk (64),Y Nagatomo (69 og)
M Icardi (33)
Southampton came from behind to register a famous 2-1 Europa League victory over Inter Milan at St Mary's on Thursday.
The hosts would have been fearing the worst when, against the run of play, captain Mauro Icardi, who scored the decisive goal when the sides met in the San Siro a fortnight ago, put Inter ahead on 33 minutes.
However, Saints rallied to that setback, and Dusan Tadic saved penalty in first-half stoppage time to deservedly secure the three points.
First, Virgil van Dijk drew Saints level on 64 minutes before Inter defender Yuto Nagatomo turned the ball into his own net five minutes later to seal an historic victory for the hosts.The result leaves qualification for the knockout stages firmly in Southampton's hands, with Claude Puel's men now sat second in Group F, two points behind leaders Sparta Prague and three ahead of third-placed Hapoel Beer-Sheva.
With three points, Inter occupy bottom spot with two games to play.
Despite rarely threatening to score in Milan two weeks ago, Puel named a near-identical side at St Mary's to the one fielded at the San Siro.
Two days after Inter had sacked manager Frank de Boer, the visitors appeared in a vulnerable position, but even then, starting without Charlie Austin, Sofiane Boufal, Ryan Bertrand and Steven Davis represented a risk.
Upon the final whistle, however, Puel had been vindicated, and had ensured faith remained in the rotation system which otherwise may have come under threat.
As in the first half in Milan, Southampton enjoyed the majority of possession without ever threatening or with a goal looking likely.
Jay Rodriguez and Nathan Redmond had come closest with reasonable attempts on goal, but a passage of unconvincing defending led to Inter taking the lead.
Attempts to clear Ever Banega's low 33rd-minute cross came to little when the ball was cut-back to Inter's under-fire captain Icardi, and from close range the striker turned and finished into the bottom left corner beyond Fraser Forster.
A handball from Ivan Perisic on the stroke of half-time gifted Southampton a penalty and the chance to equalise.
In the build-up to Tadic's attempt, Antonio Candreva was booked for appearing to strike Sam McQueen with his forearm, while Inter were also appearing to tamper with the penalty spot. Tadic then saw his poor strike close to the centre of the goal saved by Handanovic.
Puel responded in the second half by introducing Austin for Rodriguez, and with the striker as a focal point and adding greater intensity an equalising goal was secured.
James Ward-Prowse had already seen a powerful volley well saved when in the 65th minute, from the rebound to Oriol Romeu's strike, Van Dijk finished from close range.
Seizing the momentum that had been built amid Inter's lack of confidence, Southampton's winning goal came just four minutes later.
After a run down the left wing, Tadic sent a cross into the penalty area that deflected off Danilo D'Ambrosio to his team-mate Nagatomo, who then clumsily sent the ball looping into the back of the net.
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