Inter have set a new all-time club record and became only the fourth side to score 100 Serie A goals in a single calendar year, the first since 1950 to reach this remarkable milestone.
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Inter Milan thrashed Salernitana 5-0 in the Serie A fixture at Stadio Arechi on Friday to tighten their grip at the summit of the points table. Nerazzurri opened the scoring through Ivan Perisic before Denzel Dmufries doubled the lead after the half-hour mark. After the break, Alexis Sanchez, Lautaro Martinez and Roberto Gagilardini got on the score-sheet to complete the drubbing. Inter have set a new all-time club record and became only the fourth side to score 100 Serie A goals in a single calendar year, the first since 1950 to reach this remarkable milestone.
☀️ | GOOD MORNING
5 out of 5 ✅#ForzaInter #SalernitanaInter pic.twitter.com/RBWGq6O3xB
— Inter ??? (@Inter_en) December 18, 2021
The visitors took just 11 minutes to break the deadlock. Hakan Calhanoglu’s corner from the right flank was headed home by Perisic at the near post from six yards. Few moments later, dumfries came close to a second, but Vincenzo Fiorillo made a fingertip save to deny the Dutchman.
At the other end, Samir Handanovic made a quick reflex save on Joel Obi from close range on a Franck Ribery assist. But the visitors doubled the lead in the 33rd minute. Eden Dzeko rolled a cross to Dumfries and the 25-year-old smashed it off the underside of the bar and the goal-line technology confirmed it had gone over.
It was Inter’s 100th goal of 2021. The previous club record had been 99, set in 1950. AC Milan had achieved the milestone twice, with 105 goals in 1949 and 120 in 1950. Meanwhile Dzeko’s header from a corner went just wide.
After the restart, Danilo D’Ambrosio’s effort clipped the far post after being set up by a clever back heel flick from Nicolo Barella. Simone Inzaghi’s side tripled the lead in the 52nd minute courtesy of a quick breakaway move. Calhanoglu started the move in his own half and gave the ball to Sanchez in the middle of the park. The Chilean gave it back to Calhanoglu who combined with Dzeko before setting up Sanchez to slot home.
13 minutes from time, substitute Martinez made it 4-0. It was another well-worked team goal as Arturo Vidal slid the ball through for Gagilardini inside the box, though the Italian midfielder lost couldn’t take the shot, Martinez pounced on it to fire home. The Argentine has been on target for the fifth Serie A game in a row.
Inter scored their fifth of the night in the 87th minute. Vidal’s intended through ball to Martinez was intercepted by Ricardo Gagliolo, accidentally setting up Gagliardini to complete the five-star performance for Inzaghi’s side.
The win helped Inter to 43 points from 18 games, four above second placed AC Milan, who will take on Napoli on Monday. Meanwhile Salernitana are languishing at the bottom with just 8 points.
“These games on paper look simple, but that’s not the case. The lads had the right attitude from the start, I made changes and you couldn’t even tell, because everyone steps up the same way,” Inzaghi told Sky Sport Italia.
“We have our ninth game in 25 days coming up, it’s the last push before the break for Christmas and we need to grit our teeth.”
“There’s technique, attacking the space, it was a really well-worked goal,” added Inzaghi.
“I thought we always played good football, but with the Champions League commitments we dropped points along the way.
“We did well to keep our heads up, got back to the top of the table and now we want to stay there. These lads never stopped, especially those who went on international duty and made long journeys. We need that break so everyone can recharge their batteries.”
