Inter Milan left the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo with a 2-0 win over Venezia on Wednesday, but the result came from two late own goals rather than their own finishing. Matías Moreno put through his own net in the 79th minute, and Redouane Halhal did the same three minutes later, according to Goal.com. The victory keeps Inter's pursuit of the Serie A summit on track.
Why it matters
The scoreline suggests a routine away win. The performance does not. Inter held 65% of the ball and completed 624 accurate passes at a 91% success rate, yet they managed only two shots on target from 17 attempts. Cristian Chivu's side also failed to convert three big chances. For a team chasing the top of the table, that gap between control and output is the story of the night.
Augusto drives Inter forward
Goal.com rated Carlos Augusto as arguably the most influential player on the pitch. Playing on the left of the back three, he completed 95 accurate passes from 103 attempts and created two big chances. He was also part of the sequence that produced the second goal: his header from a corner eventually ended with Halhal turning the ball in.
Alessandro Bastoni led the defence with 11 defensive interventions, including four duels won, and stepped into midfield to help Inter hold a high line. Federico Dimarco kept providing width and delivery from the left, with an early effort saved in the 13th minute and another blocked late on. Marcus Thuram had four shots, the most in the match, but could not find the target with his best openings, including a close-range header in the 75th minute.
Half-time changes turn the game
Chivu made a triple substitution at the break, and Goal.com credits the move with shifting the momentum. Hakan Çalhanoglu came on and took the 79th-minute shot that led to Moreno's own goal, while Nicolò Barella added urgency and pressing in midfield. Manuel Akanji replaced Yann Bisseck and brought composure to the back line.
Venezia's defending kept them level for most of the evening. Their expected goals figure of 1.49 was higher than their zero-goal tally would suggest, and Inter's goalkeeper made four saves to keep a clean sheet. The hosts were eventually undone by a corner routine they could not clear.
Inter's wastefulness in front of goal is the main question Chivu will take from the match, even with three points secured. Venezia, for their part, will look at the chances they created and wonder how the game ended 2-0 against them.
Next up, Inter will want a sharper finishing display as the title race tightens, while Venezia face the task of turning solid defensive work into points.
