Inter took on Torino tonight with a win necessary to keep pace at the top of the table. Their visitors were equal on 11 points after a fast start to the season themselves and wanted to test their mettle against the champions. The Nerrazzuri had no problem tonight though as a Thuram triple topples Toro.
The absolute protagonist of the game was Inter’s striker. Scoring all three goals for his side in a 3-2 win to claim a hat-trick and single handedly thump Torino.
Early Exchanges
The Nerrazzurri started brightly with the lion’s share of posession, 81% across the whole first half. Torino set up camp deep in their own half with assistant manager Lino Godinho prowling the sideline.
Their plan seemed to be to catch Inter on the break, something we saw thirteen minutes in when they put a header wide, followed by Samuele Ricci’s shot was batted away by Yann Sommer.
Maripán Sees Red
Toro’s plan went out the window in the 19th minute. Guillermo Maripán lunged in on Marcus Thuram’s right ankle and saw his yellow card upgraded to a straight red by V.A.R.
Now they had no option but to sit back and try wether the storm. It wasn’t long before Inter burst through the door though.
Two Thumping Headers
With 25 minutes on the clock Thuram got his first goal of the evening. A Marco Bastoni cross was met with a powerful bullet header that beat Vanja Milinkovic-Savic all ends up. Everything had gone wrong for Torino in ten minutes.
With their opponents boxed in it wasn’t long before the champions doubled their lead. Ten minutes later Thuram again headed into Milinkovic-Savic’s net. This time he moved off Saúl Coco and glanced home. Oddly similar to the first goal.
To add to Torino’s woes striker Ché Adams was taken off after just half an hour.
Zapata Rewrites the Script
Toro might have looked out for the count but refused to go down just yet. Immediately from kick off the Granata flew up the other end and were back within touching distance as Dúvan Zapata broke through the backline and finished into the top corner beyond Sommer. Making him the joint highest scoring active Serie A player with 124 goals.
Desperate to make it to half time with something to play for Torino just about saw out the Inter onslaught. Not before Federico Dimarco went close five minutes from the break.
With a cluster of half chances to begin the second period Inter were intent on killing the game off. With an hour played Thuram struck again.
Thuram Triple Topples Torino
Bastoni slung in another cross thst Lautaro Martínez met with a solid header. The ‘Keeper could only parry as far as Thuram. Hitting a half volley into the ground and over the goalie the Frenchman completed his hat-trick in emphatic fashion.
Delight was etched across his face as the Nerrazzurri supporters belted out his name.
After pushing for a second goal Torino again found themselves two goals down and caged in their own half. Thankfully for them Thuram was hauled ashore to a standing ovation with twenty minutes left.
Despite the singing in the stands this game was far from over. Zapata had been fighting a losing battle against the Nerrazzurri defence all evening and with time starting to run out the Colombian’s knee gave way. He had to be strechered off the pitch in another worrying sign for the Granata.
Torino’s Late Penalty
Credit to the visitors though, they didn’t give up and were rewarded with a penalty four minutes from time. Çalhanoglu caught Adam Masina and Nikola Vlašić duly converted from the spot. The comeback ran out of road though.
Mehdi Taremi tried to join in during injury time, forcing a great double save from Milinkovic-Savic.
While Inter dominated a lot of aspects this game was a surprisingly close 3-2. Simone Inzaghi will be happy to go into the International break with a third win on the bounce as a Thuram triple topples Toro.