Southampton stun Inter Milan with two-goal comeback win
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Updated 03/11/2016 at 23:42 GMT
Europa League, Group K, St Mary’s Stadium – Southampton 2 (Van Dijk 64’, OG Nagatomo 69’) Internazionale 1 (Icardi 33’)
Southampton's Virgil van Dijk celebrates scoring their first goal
Image credit: Reuters
Southampton came from behind to beat managerless Inter Milan 2-1 at home in a controversial game.
The Saints dominated the first half but found themselves a goal down against the run of play when Mauro Icardi fired in a shot from close range.
Claude Puel's side spurned a glorious chance to equalise when they were awarded a soft penalty when Ivan Perisic was adjudged to have handled the ball, which sparked a melee which saw Antonio Candreva only cautioned for appearing to elbow Sam McQueen in the face.
Dusan Tadic stepped up but saw his tame penalty saved by Samir Handonic's legs, the third straight spot kick he has saved.
The home side turned it around after the break with Virgil van Dijk equalising following a corner before Yuto Nagotomo scored a bizarre own goal five minutes later.
And Southampton held on to make it ten points from four group games to stay second while the Italian side, who sacked Frank de Boer on Tuesday, remain bottom.
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Southampton's James Ward-Prowse and teammates celebrate their second scored by Inter Milan's Yuto Nagatomo with an own goal
Image credit: Reuters
TALKING POINT
How bad was the referee?
Pawel Gil and his assistants missed two strong penalty appeals for the Saints for shirt pulling by Gary Medel and Andrea Ranocchia, who appeared to be targeting Virgil van Dijk at set pieces. He then awarded a soft penalty for handball by Ivan Perisic and failed to send off Andrea Candreva for elbowing Sam McQueen in the face. Not a good night for the Polish official.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Samir Handanovic (Inter Milan): The Slovenian kept the Saints out with a string of fine saves and cemented his reputation as one of the best penalty stoppers in the business. He could have done little more to keep out van Dijk's shot and Nagotomo's own goal and was unlucky to finish on the losing side.
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Southampton's Oriol Romeu in action with Inter Milan's Samir Handanovic and Gary Medel
Image credit: Reuters
PLAYER RATINGS
SOUTHAMPTON: Forster 5, Yoshida 5, Rodriguez 5, Romeu 6, Martina 5, Ward-Prowse 6, Van Dijk 8, Redmond 6, Hojbjerg 6, McQueen 7. Subs: Austin 5, Davis 5.
INTER MILAN: Handanovic 9, Miranda 6, Ranocchia 6, D'Ambrosio 6, Nagatomo 4, Candreva 6, Medel 5, Gnoukouri 4, Perisic 5, Banega 4, Icardi 5. Subs: Eder 5, Melo 5, Biabiani 4.
KEY MOMENTS:
1' - RODRIGUEZ CHANCE! Tadic floats in a cross to the far post and Rodriguez heads the ball wide.
10' - RODRIGUEZ STRIKE! The striker collects the ball inside the area and tries a curling effort which flies over the bar, decent effort.
33' - GOAL! Southampton 0-1 Inter Milan: The much-maligned Icardi scores from close range at the back post after a low cross is fizzed in.
40' DOUBLE CHANCE: Redmond's cross is punched clear by Handanovic only for Romeu to drive towards goal, it hits Medel and goes out of play.
45'+1: PENALTY MISS! Perisic is penalised for handball. Tadic steps up but his spot kick is saved by Handanovic's legs.
50' - GOOD SAVE! Rodriguez fees Ward-Prowse whose low shot at the near post is well parried by the keeper who then claws the ball away before a Saints player can get the rebound.
64' - GOAL! Southampton 1-1 Inter Milan: From a corner, Redmond drives the ball into the area, it hits the bar and van Dijk is quickest to react to knock the ball in.
69' - OWN GOAL! Southampton 2-1 Inter Milan: A harmless cross is played into the area from Tadic, it strikes Nagotomo and its into the net.
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St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, England - 3/11/16 Referee Pawel Gil as players from both sides clash after he awarded a penalty to Southampton
Image credit: Reuters
KEY STATS
Southampton have lost just one of their last 16 home games in European competitions, their last defeat was to Sporting Lisbon in the Uefa Cup in October 1981.
Inter are without a win in their last six European away games.
The Italian side have lost five of their last six matches against English sides.
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