AC Milan's players celebrate a goal during a Serie A football match between AC Milan and Monza in Monza, Italy, Feb. 18, 2023. (Photo by Daniele Mascolo/Xinhua)
ROME, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Inter Milan took revenge on Udinese by beating them 3-1 in the 23rd round of Serie A on Saturday, with numerous chances on top of Romelu Lukaku, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Lautaro Martinez's goals.
Having beaten by Udinese by the same score in the seventh round, Inter Milan headed into San Siro with Marcelo Brozovic back into the starting line-up, while veteran Samir Handanovic also got the nod between the sticks.
The hosts went ahead in the 17th minute thanks to a penalty created by Denzel Dumfries, Lukaku saw his first attempt denied by goalkeeper Marco Silvestri, but the referee ordered a retake because of encroachment that allowed the Belgian to end his goal drought by sending the ball into the corner.
Udinese got back on level terms before the interval through a counter-attack as Sandi Lovric blasted into the net.
The Nerazzurri restored the lead in the 73rd minute with a great piece of link-up as Hakan Calhanoglu spread the play down the left, Federico Dimarco rolled across for Mkhitaryan to hit in a splendid volley on the edge of the box, before Lautaro came off the bench to seal the win in the dying minutes.
With the win, Inter remain at the second place with 47 points, 15 points off leaders Napoli.
It was a good day for Milanese clubs as AC Milan also continued their upswing forms by picking up a slender 1-0 away victory over Monza, with Junior Messias sweeping in the sole goal.
Elsewhere, Riccardo Orsolini's last-gasp winner sent Bologna past Sampdoria 2-1. ■
AC Milan's Junior Messias (L) scores his goal during a Serie A football match between AC Milan and Monza in Monza, Italy, Feb. 18, 2023. (Photo by Daniele Mascolo/Xinhua)
AC Milan's Divock Origi (L) vies with Monza's Armando Izzo (C) during a Serie A football match between AC Milan and Monza in Monza, Italy, Feb. 18, 2023. (Photo by Daniele Mascolo/Xinhua)
AC Milan's Theo Hernandez (R) vies with Monza's Nicolo Rovella during a Serie A football match between AC Milan and Monza in Monza, Italy, Feb. 18, 2023. (Photo by Daniele Mascolo/Xinhua)
