Inter 1 Torino 1: Eder strikes to preserve unbeaten record

Inter kept its unbeaten record in tact despite being unable to defeat Torino in a competitive Serie A clash.

Published : Nov 05, 2017 21:40 IST

Inter celebrates its equaliser in a tough battle against Torino.
Inter celebrates its equaliser in a tough battle against Torino.
lightbox-info

Inter celebrates its equaliser in a tough battle against Torino.

Substitute Eder scored a late equaliser as Inter preserved its unbeaten record in Serie A with an entertaining 1-1 draw against Torino at San Siro.

Torino's Iago Falque scored his fourth goal in his last six league games with an excellent individual effort in the second half, as missed chances and an impressive performance from Torino goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu frustrated Inter.

READ:  Juventus 2 Benevento 1 - Second-half comeback saves champion's blushes

But Eder, who signed a new contract this week, smashed in from close range with 11 minutes remaining to salvage a point and make it 12 league games without defeat for the host going into the international break.

Luciano Spalletti's men had won nine and drawn two of their first 11 league games this season, but after the head coach had to dismiss comparisons with club icon Jose Mourinho in the build-up to the game, this result will also serve to temper expectations.

Inter could have gone top with a victory ahead of the other Serie A matches on Sunday, but now it may fall as low as fourth if Juventus and Lazio win their games against Benevento and Udinese respectively.

Unbeaten leader Napoli, meanwhile, is away to Chievo and will move four points clear of Inter if it secures victory.

Torino is seventh in the table after making it four points from its last two games.

The visitor was the first to threaten when a left-footed strike from Daniele Baselli forced Samir Handanovic to get down sharply to save and just about hold on. 

After being found by Antonio Candreva, Mauro Icardi scuffed a shot straight at Sirigu at the other end, while Roberto Gagliardini fired over with 30-yard drive.

Inter then created an excellent chance, with a corner from the left flicked on by Matias Vecino into the path of Milan Skriniar, whose looping header looked destined to find the top corner until Sirigu produced a superb fingertip save.

Handanovic then produced similar heroics at the other end, with the home goalkeeper at full stretch to tip away Baselli's flicked header after excellent work from Cristian Ansaldi down the left to create the opportunity.

It was Sirigu's turn to shine again early in the second half, the 30-year-old producing a reaction save to keep out Vecino's header from Yuto Nagatomo's left-wing cross.

And that proved crucial when Torino moved in front just before the hour mark, Falque collecting a pass from Lorenzo De Silvestri and dribbling inside from the right past the challenges of Miranda and Gagliardini before firing a left-footed effort into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Icardi almost responded when he showed composure to beat Nicolas N'Koulou in the penalty area, only to blaze over his finish.

Torino should have put the game to bed when Joel Obi somehow headed Adem Ljajic's free-kick wide from two yards against his former club and an end-to-end battle continued when an aerial effort from Skriniar was just off target for Inter.

The visitor's star man Andrea Belotti was relatively quiet and should have done better when he dragged a shot wide on the break as the match entered its closing stages. 

And Inter grabbed a leveller soon after as Ivan Perisic's cross was cushioned into the path of Eder by Icardi, the Italy international finding the top corner from six yards just 10 minutes after coming on for Gagliardini, his first goal of the season.

There was almost a dramatic winner for Inter as Vecino, from oceans of space, smashed an effort against the top of the crossbar from 30 yards, but the visitor held on for a point.

                                                              Key Opta Facts

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment