Vidal leveller pegs back Inter, Napoli march on
Saturday, September 14, 2013
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Arturo Vidal cancelled out Mauro Icardi's first goal for FC Internazionale Milano as Juventus left San Siro with a point, on a day when SSC Napoli registered their third successive win.
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Mauro Icardi and Arturo Vidal traded second-half goals as the Derby d'Italia between FC Internazionale Milano and Juventus ended 1-1 at San Siro.
After an even first period, things opened up as the game passed the midway point of the second half. Inter forward Icardi – who scored three goals in two matches against Juventus last season for UC Sampdoria – broke the deadlock on 73 minutes. Not long on as a substitute, the 20-year-old swept Ricky Álvarez's pass beyond Gianluigi Buffon.
Inter's lead, however, lasted only two minutes, Vidal controlling Kwadwo Asamoah's ball inside the area and equalising with his left foot. Carlos Tévez immediately went close to a second for Juventus, but his powerful shot was narrowly off target.
SSC Napoli, however, managed what Inter and Juventus did not – to extend their winning start to three games. After Gonzalo Higuaín had set the Azzurri on their way, Atalanta BC midfielder Luca Cigarini was sent off with 16 minutes left. José Callejón rubber-stamped victory for Rafael Benítez's men with his third of the campaign.
There was drama aplenty in Turin, meanwhile, as AC Milan recovered from two down with three minutes left to draw 2-2 with Torino FC. Mario Balotelli salvaged a point for the Rossoneri with a penalty deep into added time.