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Inter closer to title

Monday, April 12th, 2021 00:00 | By
Inter Milan’s Italian defender Matteo Darmian (Rear L) celebrates after opening the scoring during the Italian Serie A football match against Cagliari on April 11, 2021 at the San Siro stadium in Milan. Photo/AFP

Milan, Sunday 

Matteo Darmian scored the only goal with quarter of an hour to go as Serie A leaders Inter Milan held off relegation-threatened Cagliari 1-0 to stretch their winning streak to 11 consecutive games as they close in on the league title.

Moroccan Achraf Hakimi came off the bench and minutes later set up Italy defender Darmian to grab the winner in the San Siro to inflict a fourth consecutive defeat on Cagliari.

Inter move back 11 points clear of second-placed AC Milan who won 3-1 at Parma on Saturday, as a first title since 2010 beckons for Antonio Conte’s side with eight game left to play.

Struggling nine-time defending champions Juventus are 15 points behind Inter in third before hosting Genoa on Sunday.

“On a psychological level we gave an important signal today,” said former Manchester United defender Darmian.

“It was a difficult match, they defended well and we couldn’t break through. 

“Winning today was essential to keep our rivals at a distance.”

Inter had been pegged back against 18th-placed Cagliari whose goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, replacing Covid-19 hit Alessio Cragno, kept his team in the tie.

Vicario denied Christian Eriksen in either half, while Inter loanee Radja Nainggolan also missed a chance to open for the visitors against his parent club.

Romelu Lukaku set up Alexis Sanchez who thought he had broken through after quarter of an hour but the goal was rule offside.

Vicario kept out Darmian from an angle before the break, and pushed another Eriksen chance over the bar before the the hour mark.

Stefan de Vrij rattled the crossbar before Conte made a double substitution bringing on Hakimi for Ashley Young after 69 minutes, with Lautaro Martinez replacing Sanchez.

It paid off and minutes later Hakimi combined with Lukaku to tee up Parma loanee Darmian to push Inter closer to a 19th Serie A crown after finishing runners-up last season.

“Everyone feels they have a role to play,” said Darmian.

“Conte transmits the passion and the desire to win, you can see this on the pitch.”  - AFP

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