Inter Milan held on to secure a 2-1 win away at relegation-threatened Cagliari in this evening's Serie A clash at the Stadio Sant'Elia to edge themselves closer to the league's European places.
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The hosts carved out the first chance of the game after just two minutes, Godfred Donsah blasting a volleyed effort high into the stands from 25 yards out.
Inter then worked their way into the game, enjoying the lion's share of possession, and in the eighth minute Fredy Guarin fired a powerful overhead kick beyond the crossbar at the back post.
Marcelo Brozovic was then guilty of missing a gilt-edged chance for the visitors in the 20th minute when Lukas Podolski weaved past several players before sending a pass the way of the Croatian, but the ball was then blasted high and wide from close range.
Cagliari goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic was called into action on several occasions midway through the first half, denying Brozovic and Mauro Icardi in quick succession before getting down low to save a flick-on from an Inter corner just before the break.
The hosts' resistance would be breached just after the restart, however, as Mateo Kovacic opened the scoring with a composed strike from just inside the area.
Inter then went further ahead in the 68th minute when Icardi cut inside from the right before lashing a curling finish into the top left-hand corner of the hosts' net.
However, the Nerazzurri would have to endure a nervy finish to the match as Samuele Longo rattled a powerful volley off the inside of the near post in the 74th minute, which bounced off Juan Carrizo's back and into the net.
Nevertheless, Roberto Mancini's charges withstood a late Cagliari surge to secure all three points and climb to sixth in the Serie A table, while the Sardinians remain in the bottom three.
Giuseppe Labellarte
