Inter 3-4 Atalanta: Denis hits hat trick in San Siro spectacular
Inter threw away a two-goal lead to suffer a 4-3 defeat by a German Denis-inspired Atalanta in a gripping Serie A clash at San Siro on Sunday.
It was a catastrophic result in more ways than one for the Nerazzurri, whose hopes of making the Champions League next season are fading fast, while an injury to Antonio Cassano further hampers their already depleted front line.
Tommaso Rocchi gave Inter a narrow lead at the break, and a brace off the bench from Ricky Alvarez looked to have given it all three points after an equalizer from Giacomo Bonaventura.
But then, Denis took over. The Argentine struck from the penalty spot with 19 minutes remaining, before twice finishing clinically at the near post to give the visitors an unlikely lead which they would not relinquish, despite Cristian Raimondi's late red card.
Inter now faces an eight-point gap to third placed AC Milan, and can even slip out of Europa League contention should Lazio achieve a result in the Rome derby on Monday.
The home side’s first real opening arrived with nearly half an hour gone, as Fredy Guarin’s cross from the byline was met by Rocchi, but deflected just off target.
The sight of Cassano clutching his hamstring was one Inter could have definitely done without, and with 32 minutes on the clock, the forward would succumb to the injury, making way for Alvarez.
Surprisingly, Cassano’s departure seemed to signal an upturn in Inter’s attacking momentum, as Alvarez found space to shoot on two occasions, before Rocchi saw another effort deflected just wide.
And Rocchi would not be denied a third time. With only a minute to go until the break, Pereira’s corner was judged poorly by Ciro Polito, allowing the veteran striker all the time he needed to lash into the roof of the net from the near post.
But 10 minutes after the restart, Atalanta would equalize. Substitute Marko Livaja’s cross was missed completely by Walter Samuel, giving Bonaventura space to steal in ahead of Andrea Ranocchia and lift the ball over Samir Handanovic.
However, that lead would last all of two minutes. Michele Canini’s back header sold Polito short, and Alvarez stole in to poke home, leaving Atalanta furious after appeals for a foul on Guglielmo Stendardo by Rocchi went unheeded.
Alvarez would add another just after the hour mark, and this time, there was no doubt about the legitimacy of his goal. Collecting the ball on the right side of the box, the midfielder cut in past his marker and drilled home expertly at the near post.
But the pendulum swung Atalanta’s way three minutes later. Livaja drew a foul on Ranocchia in the area, and Denis stepped up to bury the resulting penalty.
And with 71 minutes gone, the visitors would fight back again. Denis took advantage of miscommunication in the Inter defensive ranks to drive in a low shot past Handanovic at the near post.
Atalanta’s comeback was completed in grand fashion with 13 minutes remaining by Denis, who stabbed home Bonaventura’s cross to round off a magnificent hat trick.
Raimondi was given his marching orders in injury time for a violent outburst on Ezequiel Schelotto, but Inter could have tied the game late on when Ranocchia only had to tap into an empty net, but somehow, to the disbelief of the entire stadium, contrived to shoot over the bar.
Inter threw away a two-goal lead to suffer a 4-3 defeat by a German Denis-inspired Atalanta in a gripping Serie A clash at San Siro on Sunday.
It was a catastrophic result in more ways than one for the Nerazzurri, whose hopes of making the Champions League next season are fading fast, while an injury to Antonio Cassano further hampers their already depleted front line.
Tommaso Rocchi gave Inter a narrow lead at the break, and a brace off the bench from Ricky Alvarez looked to have given it all three points after an equalizer from Giacomo Bonaventura.
But then, Denis took over. The Argentine struck from the penalty spot with 19 minutes remaining, before twice finishing clinically at the near post to give the visitors an unlikely lead which they would not relinquish, despite Cristian Raimondi's late red card.
Inter now faces an eight-point gap to third placed AC Milan, and can even slip out of Europa League contention should Lazio achieve a result in the Rome derby on Monday.
The home side’s first real opening arrived with nearly half an hour gone, as Fredy Guarin’s cross from the byline was met by Rocchi, but deflected just off target.
The sight of Cassano clutching his hamstring was one Inter could have definitely done without, and with 32 minutes on the clock, the forward would succumb to the injury, making way for Alvarez.
Surprisingly, Cassano’s departure seemed to signal an upturn in Inter’s attacking momentum, as Alvarez found space to shoot on two occasions, before Rocchi saw another effort deflected just wide.
And Rocchi would not be denied a third time. With only a minute to go until the break, Pereira’s corner was judged poorly by Ciro Polito, allowing the veteran striker all the time he needed to lash into the roof of the net from the near post.
But 10 minutes after the restart, Atalanta would equalize. Substitute Marko Livaja’s cross was missed completely by Walter Samuel, giving Bonaventura space to steal in ahead of Andrea Ranocchia and lift the ball over Samir Handanovic.
However, that lead would last all of two minutes. Michele Canini’s back header sold Polito short, and Alvarez stole in to poke home, leaving Atalanta furious after appeals for a foul on Guglielmo Stendardo by Rocchi went unheeded.
Alvarez would add another just after the hour mark, and this time, there was no doubt about the legitimacy of his goal. Collecting the ball on the right side of the box, the midfielder cut in past his marker and drilled home expertly at the near post.
But the pendulum swung Atalanta’s way three minutes later. Livaja drew a foul on Ranocchia in the area, and Denis stepped up to bury the resulting penalty.
And with 71 minutes gone, the visitors would fight back again. Denis took advantage of miscommunication in the Inter defensive ranks to drive in a low shot past Handanovic at the near post.
Atalanta’s comeback was completed in grand fashion with 13 minutes remaining by Denis, who stabbed home Bonaventura’s cross to round off a magnificent hat trick.
Raimondi was given his marching orders in injury time for a violent outburst on Ezequiel Schelotto, but Inter could have tied the game late on when Ranocchia only had to tap into an empty net, but somehow, to the disbelief of the entire stadium, contrived to shoot over the bar.
