A first half stunner from Hernanes and a late goal from Mauro Icardi helped Inter Milan to pour more misery on struggling AS Roma at San Siro on Saturday. This was Inter Milana s first victory over Roma in seven matches and coach Roberto Mancini looked excited after this moral boosting win.
Fredy Guarin, Marcelo Brozovic, De Rossi and Kostas Manolas, who were suspended earlier, made a comeback for this match, while Roma striker Gervinho made a return from his injury.
Of the two sides, Roma started the game on a brighter note as De Rossi and Nemanja Vidic tested Inter Milan keeper Handonovic early in the game.
But a stunning goal from Hernanes put Inter Milan ahead in the 24th minute. Roma made some good moves in search of an equalizer and they found the success as Nainggolan beat Handonovic in the second half.
The substitutes of Inter Milan, Shaqiri, Lukas Podolski and Mateo Kovacic, played a key role in changing their fortunes as their attacking display helped Mauro Icardi to score a winner.
Roberto Mancini was happy with the performance of Inter Milan and praised his substitutes.
a This was a much more open game, Roma attacked us and that left more spaces for us to play in too,a said Mancini.
a Xherdan Shaqiri, Lukas Podolski and Mateo Kovacic proved to be decisive substitutes.
a They came off the bench and put the match on the right track. Those three certainly restored verve to the team, which was flagging at that point.
a Kovacic was extraordinary today, even if he only played for 20 minutes. If he maintains this attitude, then he can play anywhere. The issue of his position wona t matter.a
Roma coach Rudi Garcia said after the game that a draw would have been a more logical result.
a I think a draw woulda ve been a more logical result, but we know at this level a game can be decided by a single incident,a Rudi Garcia told Sky Sport Italia.
a We hit the woodwork in the first half, but after the break played more like Roma. We equalised, pushed hard to win this match and in the end conceded the goal of defeat.a
