Torino 0-2 Inter

Torino tasted defeat for the first time this season, as quality finishes from Diego Milito and Antonio Cassano gave Inter a 2-0 victory on Sunday evening.

The Granata were unchanged from the side that beat Pescara 3-0 two weeks ago, as Alen Stevanovic was once again preferred to new acquisition Alessio Cerci on the right wing, and after scoring his first ever Serie A goal, Alessandro Sgrigna kept his place upfront.

 

After a quiet start, the away side took the lead on thirteen minutes when a loose pass from Alessandro Gazzi fell to Diego Milito on the edge of the area, and the Argentinean striker struck first time with a powerful shot into the bottom corner.

The home side were struggling to create goalscoring opportunities, although defender Angelo Ogbonna did test Inter keeper Samir Handanovic with a shot from 25 yards. At the other end, Toro keeper Jean-Francois Gillet made a great save to deny Wesley Sneijder, whose long rang free kick had looked goalbound.

Torino nearly got an equaliser in bizarre fashion, when Japanese defender Yuto Nagatomo (under pressure from Rolando Bianchi) passed the ball towards his own goal, but Handanovic reacted quickly to keep Inter in the lead at half time.

On the hour mark, Giampiero Ventura made a double change as Alessio Cerci and Riccardo Meggiorini came on to replace the ineffective Alen Stevanovic and Alessandro Sgrigna. And the substitutes almost made an immediate impact as they combined to good effect to create a chance for Bianchi, but he was unable to get any power behind his shot.

Toro had their best chance of the match minutes later, when Meggiorini produced an inch-perfect pass to strike partner Bianchi, and although the Torino captain hit his volley low and hard, he was somehow denied by an instinctive (some would say lucky) save from Handanovic. The home side were now finding chances easier to come by, and an exquisite through ball from Angelo Ogbonna found Riccardo Meggiorini in space, but the former Inter striker could only find the side netting.

However, with seven minutes remaining, Inter put the result beyond any doubt, as Ricky Alvarez's low cross found its way to fellow substitute Antonio Cassano, who finished cooly past a helpless Gillet. 

Despite losing, Torino did show some promising signs,and with some winnable games on the horizon, it will hopefully not be too long until Torino return to winning ways.

Forza Torino