It was an evening that began in the best possible way but ended on a disappointing note. Udinese lost their second consecutive match after taking the lead, once again against a top-tier opponent. The Zebrette raced into a two goal lead within the first fifteen minutes against Inter at San Siro. However, the Nerazzurri fought back to level the score and soared into a clear lead in the second half, with our lads managing a third goal only in stoppage time.
Udinese started the match strongly, taking the lead in the ninth minute through James Abankwah, who headed home a precise cross from Unai Gomez. In the 16th minute the visitors extended their advantage to two goals thanks to Jurgen Ekkelenkamp, who beat Josep Martinez with a deft toe-poke after having been smartly set up by Keinan Davis.
Inter poured forward in search of a goal and indeed cut the deficit ten minutes later through a lovely strike by Carlos Augusto. The hosts kept up the pressure, and shortly after Nicolo Barella equalised. Udinese then endured an Inter onslaught and managed to get to the half-time interval all-square.
The second 45 carried on from where the teams left off and Inter took the lead through Marcus Thuram in the 57th minute. Pio Esposito put clear daylight between the two sides just ten minutes later, finishing off a lovely team move. Ange-Yoan Bonny completed the rout with ten minutes left on the clock, although Idrissa Gueye managed to grab a consolation goal for Udinese in the dying moments.
Udinese remain on four points, while the Nerazzurri return to the top of the table. Next up is a match on Saturday at Bluenergy Stadium against Cagliari, followed by the international break.
Inter 5-3 Udinese (HT 2-2)
Scorers: Abankwah 9, Ekkelenkamp 16, Carlos Augusto 26, Barella 35, Thuram 57, Esposito 67, Bonny 79, Gueye 90
Inter (3-5-2): J. Martinez; Akanji, Stones (Pavard 62), Bastoni (Dimarco 70); Diouf, Barella (c), Zielinski (Stankovic 82), Mkhitaryan (Jones 62), Carlos Augusto; Thuram (Bonny 70), Esposito.
Unused subs: Di Gennaro, Provedel, Sucic, L. Martinez, Luis Henrique, Bisseck, Mosconi.
Coach: Chivu
Unused subs: Di Gennaro, Provedel, Sucic, L. Martinez, Luis Henrique, Bisseck, Mosconi.
Coach: Chivu
Udinese (3-4-2-1): Okoye; Abankwah, Kabasele, Ebosse; Vojvoda (Bertola 73), Karlstrom (c), Miller (Chakvetadze 73), Kamara; Gomez (Gueye 61), Ekkelenkamp (Lovric 80); Davis (Bayo 80).
Unused subs: Mrozek, Padelli, Zarraga, Vinciati, Jovanovic.
Coach: Runjaic.
Unused subs: Mrozek, Padelli, Zarraga, Vinciati, Jovanovic.
Coach: Runjaic.
Referee: Pairetto
Assistants: Moro, Yoshikawa
Fourth Official: Colombo
Assistants: Moro, Yoshikawa
Fourth Official: Colombo
VAR: Marini, Gariglio
Booked: Davis 45, Mkhitaryan 60
Booked: Davis 45, Mkhitaryan 60