(Football news) A late winner from Luca Caldirola earned Monza a shock 1-0 win against Inter Milan in the Serie A as Simone Inzaghi’s men suffered their fourth loss in their last five league matches. Inter are on course for a first Champions League semi finals appearance since 2010 following their convincing 2-0 win over Benfica in their quarter final first leg as they needed three points to return to the top four but couldn’t manage to get them.
Inter now stayed 51 points from 30 games as they are now two points behind fourth-placed AC Milan who were held to a 1-1 draw by Bologna on Saturday. For Inter they recently lost against Spezia, Juventus and Fiorentina, and drew then suffered a disappointing 1-1 against Salernitana. For Inter it was subsequently their third home loss in a row for the first time in 10 years. Joaquin Correa should have made it 1-0 in the 24th minute when his low shot from inside the box was denied by the Monza keeper Michele Di Gregorio.
Inter gradually pushed for a goal but Di Gregorio again pulled off a superb save to deny Romelu Lukaku. The Belgium striker had one more chance but this time his curled shot from the edge of the box went wide. In the 64th minute, Monza finally created their first chance and were close to finding a goal through Dany Mota. The visitors then stunned the home crowd and took a surprise lead at the San Siro in the 78th minute through Caldirola. He rose the highest when he met a corner and nodded a header from close range.
Inter substitute Lautaro Martinez had Inter’s best chance for an equaliser but was again denied by Monza as they held onto a famous victory. Inter were held to a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture in January as the newly promoted team moved up one place to 12th on 38 points. Monza host Fiorentina on April 23 as Inter travel to 14th-placed Empoli in a must win game for them to stay in the CL spots.
“It was a photocopy of [our games against] Fiorentina and Salernitana, we are very disappointed and angry,” Inzaghi told Sky Sport. “It’s not true that we don’t feel the championship but only the cups. We knew the importance of this match, it is a negative result that slows down our path.”
“I’m proud of these guys. We’ve made history, winning at San Siro is wonderful,” Monza coach Raffaele Palladino said after they moved 15 points clear of the relegation zone. “We want to score as many points as possible. I haven’t [named] a position [to the guys], we have to do our best. If they finish in a higher place, every single guy gains value. Each of us must raise the bar.”
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