AC Milan 0-2 Inter: Romelu Lukaku header seals deserved derby triumph

Posted Sunday, September 22, 2019 by Goal.com

AC Milan 0-2 Inter: Romelu Lukaku header seals deserved derby triumph
Inter are top of Serie A after four matches following a deserved derby victory over AC Milan which was sealed by Romelu Lukaku.

Marcelo Brozovic and Romelu Lukaku struck as Inter continued their 100 per cent start to the Serie A season and extended a strong recent record in derbies against city rivals AC Milan with a 2-0 victory.

A deflected strike from Brozovic four minutes into the second half and a late clincher from Lukaku settled a contest that Antonio Conte's men always looked the more likely to win.

Milan, the designated home team at the shared San Siro, only produced one shot on target and were comfortably kept at arm's length by Inter after the opening goal.

The Rossoneri have now lost two of their first four games under coach Marco Giampaolo and failed to beat Inter in seven consecutive league derbies.

The first big chance came when Lautaro Martinez slipped Lukaku through on goal, the Belgium striker's right-footed shot forcing a one-handed save from Gianluigi Donnarumma.

A better opportunity arrived in the 21st minute, but Danilo D'Ambrosio could somehow only hit the post from four yards on the rebound after Donnarumma made a reaction save from Martinez, the opening created by Stefano Sensi's clever cut-back.

Inter almost paid the price for those misses when Hakan Calhanoglu found the net, but the goal was disallowed because Kwadwo Asamoah's poor clearance was adjudged to have struck the arm of Franck Kessie on his 100th Milan appearance.

D'Ambrosio thought he had made amends with a stunning overhead kick which was somehow saved by Donnarumma and tucked in by Martinez on the rebound, but an offside flag halted the move.

Inter broke through after the break though, Brozovic's strike from the edge of the area taking a wicked deflection off Rafael Leao to beat Donnarumma after Sensi's lay-off.

And the win was sealed 12 minutes from time with Lukaku guiding a well-judged header into the far corner from Nicolo Barella's left-wing cross.

Matteo Politano's late curler struck the crossbar and Antonio Candreva's deflected shot bounced off the inside of the post as Inter threatened a third, with Milan left to reflect on a forgettable performance that also saw Theo Hernandez strike the woodwork in the closing minutes.

What does it mean? Juventus clash looming large for assured Inter

After a poor Champions League outing against Slavia Prague, this assured victory will come as a significant boost to Inter.

They have won all four of their Serie A matches, conceding just once in the process, and the Derby d'Italia against champions Juventus on October 6 is already looming large as a huge early test of their Scudetto credentials.

For Milan, meanwhile, scrutiny of Giampaolo's tactics is unlikely to go away after this defeat.

Lukaku makes his mark

It looked like another frustrating outing was coming for Lukaku when Donnarumma impressively denied him in the first half and he produced an odd headed effort on the hour mark.

But the former Manchester United star delivered with a fine header to wrap up the victory and then showed good link-up play to set up Politano's effort against the bar. This was a display he needed.

Leao does not make desired impact

Leao was handed his first start on a big occasion, named in the Milan starting XI ahead of Lucas Paqueta and Ante Rebic despite having only played for 15 minutes before this encounter.

But he did not make the impression he wanted, deflecting in Brozovic's goal at one end and not registering a shot in attack, despite playing 83 minutes.

What's next?

Inter are back at San Siro against Lazio on Wednesday, while Milan are away a day later against Torino.