Inter won 2-1 at ACF Fiorentina in Serie A on Saturday to keep their faint hopes of qualifying for the Champions League alive.
Inter moved five points behind fourth-placed Fiorentina and eight points behind third-placed SSC Napoli, who were to take on relegation-threatened US Sassuolo yesterday.
“We were very good tonight, even if we created a lot of chances, but still risked drawing the match,” Inter coach Walter Mazzarri said.
Inter took the lead in the 34th minute when Rodrigo Palacio, who had hit the post earlier, chested down Fredy Guarin’s pass and right-footed it past onrushing Fiorentina goalkeeper Neto.
Fiorentina leveled immediately after the break as a rare mistake from Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic allowed a long-range effort from Juan Cuadrado in.
Substitute Mauro Icardi scored what was to prove the winner in the 65th when he volleyed home Yuto Nagatomo’s cross, although there was a suspicion of offside.
“It’s a mistake, but we’ll accept it,” Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella said. “But it’s the second match that we’ve lost at home in this way. The team didn’t deserve to lose.”
It was Icardi’s first appearance this year, after numerous injuries.
Fiorentina brought on Mario Gomez three minutes later for his first appearance in five months. He almost leveled in extra-time, but could not get the final touch on Alessandro Matri’s volley
Gomez was Fiorentina’s marquee signing when he joined in the summer from Bayern Munich for a reported 20 million euros (US$26 million), but injured his left knee in a match against Cagliari on Sept. 15 last year.
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