Serie A leader Inter Milan lets slip 2-goal lead to draw 2-2 against Bologna

Sat, Oct 7, 2023
Soccer News (AP)

MILAN (AP) - League leader Inter Milan let slip a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 against Bologna in Serie A on Saturday.

Inter, which hadn't conceded a goal in its previous two matches, seemed on course for victory when two goals in as many minutes from Francesco Acerbi and Lautaro Martinez gave it a 2-0 lead after 13 minutes.

But Riccardo Orsolini pulled one back for Bologna from the penalty spot six minutes later and Joshua Zirkzee leveled early in the second half.

Inter can be overtaken at the top by AC Milan, which is a point behind its city rival and visits promoted Genoa later. Juventus can also trim the gap when it hosts Torino later in a derby match.

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Bologna, which hasn't lost since the opening day of the season, remained seven points below Inter.

Inter coach Simone Inzaghi had opted not to rotate his squad following Tuesday's 1-0 win over Benfica in the Champions League.

Inter took the lead in the 11th minute when Acerbi headed in a Hakan Calhanoglu corner at the near post. It was the first goal Bologna had conceded in more than a month.

And the Nerazzurri doubled their advantage just two minutes later with a stunning goal. Martinez received the ball from Marcus Thuram and unleashed an absolute rocket into the back of the net.

It was Martinez's 10th Serie A goal of the season.

However, the Argentine World Cup winner allowed Bologna to get back into the match in the 19th minute when he hauled down Lewis Ferguson in the area. Orsolini struck the resulting penalty into the bottom corner.

That was important psychologically for Bologna, so soon after going 2-0 down, and it eventually scored the equaliser seven minutes into the second half.

Zirkzee controlled the ball on the edge of the area and turned as he waited to see what the Inter defense would do before firing into the bottom corner.

Alexis Sanchez thought he had restored Inter's lead but it was ruled out for offside.

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