Lukaku, Lautaro Secure 8th Straight Serie A Win For Inter Milan
Inter strengthened their position at the Serie A summit as Lautaro Martinez’s late header secured a slender 2-1 win over Torino on Sunday.
The Nerazzurri never looked like scoring during a dismal first half, but they forged ahead in the 62nd minute when Romelu Lukaku slotted home from the penalty spot.
Antonio Sanabria pulled the hosts level eight minutes later, yet Inter celebrated an eighth consecutive top-flight win courtesy of Martinez’s 14th league goal of the season five minutes from full-time.
The result moved Antonio Conte’s side nine points clear at the top of Serie A, although Milan had the chance to restore a six-point gap by overcoming Napoli later on Sunday.
Eight in a row! 🙌#TorinoInter 1⃣-2⃣#FORZAINTER ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/EPXfAvwQfr
— Inter (@Inter_en) March 14, 2021
Martinez headed wide early on for Inter, but it was Torino who came closest to scoring during a largely tepid first half, in which the visitors failed to register a single shot on target.
Simone Verdi’s free-kick from the left channel found Lyanco at the back post and the defender’s header crashed back off Samir Handanovic’s left-hand post.
Conte replaced Roberto Gagliardini and Ivan Perisic with Ashley Young and Christian Eriksen shortly before the hour mark in an attempt to inject some life into his side and it paid off almost instantly.
Armando Izzo brought down Martinez in the area and Lukaku stepped up to stroke home his 19th Serie A goal of the season.
Salvatore Sirigu denied Achraf Hakimi soon after, before Torino pulled level 20 minutes from time, Sanabria firing in from close range after Handanovic had kept out Simone Zaza’s initial effort.
Martinez had the final say, though, superbly heading home substitute Alexis Sanchez’s cross in the 85th minute to seal all three points and crank up the pressure on Inter’s title rivals.
