Italian giants, FC Internazionale Milano have kept alive their hopes of finishing in the top three in Serie A with a 3-1 home victory against Udinese over the weekend.
Cyril Thereau stunned the San Siro by putting the visitors ahead early on, but the brace from Stevan Jovetic turned the game on its head and Eder added a third goal in injury time. Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic produced a brilliant save to deny Duvan Zapata and preserve his side’s advantage after losing their previous game to Genoa.
Thereau who just reached 33 years, opened the scoring after nine minutes. Emmanuel Badu matched a pass from inside the centre circle and Thereau took it brilliantly, striking the ball first time on the volley from just inside the penalty area as it dropped over his shoulder. Inter Milan responded well and Udinese keeper Orestis Karnezis had to push away a fierce shot from 23-year old midfielder, Geoffrey Kondogbia.
Mauro Icardi controlled the ball and turned down the left-hand side of the penalty area and his shot was across goal but resulted in the perfect pass for Jovetic, who simply tapped the ball home from three yards out. The goal was the much needed equalizer 36 minutes later. Bruno Fernandes responded for Udinese with an effort that hit the crossbar before Jovetic gave Inter their lead in the 75th minute, chesting home a deflected Jonathan Biabiany cross.
Udinese should have equalised in injury time but Handanovic rushed from his line to deny Zapata from close range. From the resulting counter attack, Brozovic put Eder through on goal and he beat Karnezis one-on-one to seal the win and move Inter to within four points of Roma, who occupy the final Champions League place. Roma later won their match and extended the gap back to seven points but Inter hope for a slip before the season ends.