Cagliari equalise twice to deny Inter Milan victory late on

A late goal from Nicolas Viola secured Cagliari a 2-2 draw away to Inter Milan and frustrated the Serie A leaders’ as they march to the title.

The result moved the Nerazzurri to a 14-point lead over closest challengers AC Milan, though they can still seal the Scudetto in their next game. Cagliari remain in 14th position on 31 points, four points ahead of Frosinone in 18th.

It looked like business as usual for the season’s Serie A dominators after Marcus Thuram turned in Alexis Sanchez’s low cross to open the scoring inside the first 15 minutes. Nicolo Barella also had a looping header disallowed for offside. With top scorer Lautaro Martinez missing through suspension, Inter were missing a little firepower up top and could not carve out another clear-cut chance.

The Sardinian visitors were game and hit back clinically in the second half, as Eldor Shomurodov crashed in an equaliser from a Zito Luvumbo knock-down. The Angolan midfielder was Cagliari’s brightest spark, using his pace and power to create several chances.

Inter regained the lead 10 minutes later, as Hakan Calhanoglu converted a penalty awarded from a Yerry Mina handball. The Colombian centre-back protested vociferously – he knew little about it as Dimarco headed it directly onto his arm.

However, the away team showed their grit and resilience to ensure a point apiece, as substitute Viola crashed in the equaliser after a clever knockdown from strike partner Gianluca Lapadula. Cagliari didn’t have a glut of chances, but they certainly made the most of their few opportunities. The result means that Claudio Ranieri’s men have only lost one match in the last eight.

There will be no panic for runaway leaders Inter. With six games remaining in the season, the draw means that victory in their next game away to inter-city rivals and closest challengers AC Milan would be enough to give them the title. Lautaro Martinez, suspended for this encounter, will be available for selection.

Nicolas Viola’s supersub reputation is secure. He has scored the most goals as a benchwarmer in Serie A this season, with five.

Alongside Gianluca Lapadula, their introductions were the right men coming on at the right time. Ranieri’s changes revitalised Cagliari and gave them the legs, the heart and the edge to take a valuable point. In fact, if Viola had directed his late chance either side of Sommer, it would have been all three. This is not canny Claudio’s first rodeo, of course.

In contrast, Simone Inzaghi’s second-half changes flattered to deceive. Marko Arnautovic was anonymous, not getting a sniff at goal.

Far from shoring up things, Carlos Augusto gave away possession in a couple of crucial moments while his team-mates poured forward for a winner and Denzel Dumfries didn’t have the same incisiveness as Matteo Darmian. Both moments of brilliance and intelligent game management were lacking from the team all round, but the fresh legs didn’t help them much either.

The Frenchman’s movement and football brain was on show for the opener, ghosting into space at the perfect time to complete a simple, sweet passing move.

While he and Juventus missed the cutting edge of Lautaro Martinez at times, the 26-year-old’s showing was a reminder that they are far from a one-man band, as he linked up well with Alexis up top, even if more clear-cut chances were hard to come by.

Inter: Sommer 6; Bastoni 6, Acerbi 5, Bisseck 5; Darmian 6, Dimarco 7, Mkhitaryan 6, Calhanoglu 7, Barella 6; Sanchez 6, Thuram 7. Subs: Frattesi 5, Arnautovic 6, Dumfries 6, Buchanan 6, Augusto 6,

Cagliari: Scuffet 6; Augello 6, Mina 5, Hatzdiakos 5, Obert 6, Di Pardo 6; Jankto 6, Makoumbou 5, Sulemana 6, Luvumbo 7, Shomurodov 7. Subs: Prati 5, Lapadula 7, Viola 7, Wieteska 6, Zappa 6

12’ – Goal! Inter 1-0 Cagliari (Thuram): Marcus Thuram finished off a neat passing move for the home side. Alexis Sanchez was released down the right, sprinted to the byline and the French striker couldn’t miss his pinpoint ball in amid a statue-esque defence.

64’ – Goal! Inter 1-1 Cagliari (Shomurodov): Out of nowhere, the visitors levelled the match up. Uzbek frontman Eldor Shomurodov had the ball touched into his path on the edge of the box by Luvumbo and he lashed a fierce shot into the bottom-left corner past Sommer.

74’ – Goal! Inter 2-1 Cagliari (Calhanoglu pen): A Dimarco header hit the outstretched hand of his marker Yerry Mina. Penalty kick, which Hakan Calhanoglu coolly converted, driving the ball low into the right corner.

82’ – Goal! Inter 2-2 Cagliari (Viola): A flick-on came back into the box and was touched on by Lapadula, who cleverly used his strength and body to hold off centre-back Acerbi. It fell into the path of Nicolas Viola, who stroked the ball into the right corner to ensure a point apiece.

90+4’ – Missed chance! Viola could have been a two-goal hero, as Cagliari broke two-on-two and Lapadula sent in a well-weighted ball. However, the onrushing header was straight into the arms of the grateful Sommer from 14 yards out.