Inter Milan dispatch of Frosinone late

Goals from Radja Nainggolan, Ivan Perisic and a stoppage-time strike from Matias Vecino elevated Inter Milan to a 3-1 win at lowly Frosinone Sunday afternoon.

The win kept the Nerazzurri five points up on city rival AC Milan in third and six points above AS Roma. It also inched Inter closer to Napoli – just seven points back for second.

Inter jumped out to a lead in the 20^th minute when Danilo D’Ambrosio found Nainggolan with a well-placed cross into the area. Nainggolan convered with a header past Frosinone goalkeeper Marco Sportiello.

The Nerazzurri seemed to take control 15 minutes later after Raman Chibsah held down Milan Skriniar in the penalty area, giving Inter a potential to double its lead.

Interestingly enough, Ivan Perisic was called upon to take the penalty, despite Mauro Icardi being on the pitch. It is Icardi who traditionally takes penalties when he is playing.

Perisic, however, made good with the shot and doubled Inter’s lead.

Matteo Politano had an opportunity to increase the lead even further after Icardi drove in and forced a mistake from Lorenzo Ariaudo. Politano found himself with the ball, but Sportiello was able to close the angle and take away the opportunity.

After the break, Frosinone came out with the same intensity it had in its previous two matches – both constituted wins.

Daniel Ciofani took advantage of a mistake from Inter midfielder Borja Valero and found Fracesco Cassatta with a near wide-open net. Cassatta made the Nerazzurri pay for the defensive blunder by shooting past an out-of-position Samir Handanovic to cut Inter’s lead to one, 2-1.

Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images

Perisic came close to restoring order minutes later but Marco Capuano threw himself in front of the Croatian international to prevent a goal.

One big surprise came in the latter stage of the match.

Playing with a lead, traditionally, Luciano Spalletti has called off the dogs and had Inter play not to lose. However, Sunday, the Nerazzurri continued to press offensively, despite holding the advantage.

Icardi almost notched a goal when substitute Keita Balde picked him out on the run, however Icardi’s header went over the bar.

But, it was another substitute, Joao Mario, who helped Inter close out the match.

In stoppage time, Mario drove ahead and found Icardi on the wing. Icardi then passed back to a rushing Vecino who slotted home Inter’s third goal of the match.

Inter will be back in action at 2:30 p.m. EDT Saturday when they host AS Roma. They will close out the month with a home match against Juventus in the Derby d’Italia at 2:30 p.m. EDT Saturday, April 27. Both matches will be without midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, who remains out with an injury.

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