Inter Milan captain and centre-forward Mauro Icardi sprinkled some magic as the Argentine netted a hat-trick to see the Nerazzurri edge their derby rivals AC Milan 3-2 in an epic Milan Derby at the San Siro.
Sunday’s win sees Luciano Spaletti’s men rise to second in the Series A league table, just two points off leaders Napoli while Milan slip to 10th and alarmingly, the Rossoneri have now lost four times already this season.
Inter had the first chance of the game, with Antonio Candreva seeing his effort cannon off the crossbar with Milan’s keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma well beaten for once.
Nerazurri defender Miranda was booked for a cynical foul on Milan forward Andre Silva and the already tense atmosphere came to a boil as referee Paolo Tagliavento brandished cautions to Alessio Romagnoli and Mattias Vecino as well.
Miranda would then come close to opening the scoring with a header from a corner but his effort grazed the side-netting, much to the relief of Donnarumma and co.
The breakthrough came just before the half-hour mark and through Inter’s mercurial forward, Icardi. Candreva swung in a bouncing cross from the right-flank and Icardi managed to get the slightest of touches to guide the ball into the back of the net.
The Argentine had been on the peripheries of the game but proved his quality once again, scoring with the first chance he got.
Vecino had a chance to double Inter’s lead but Donnarumma gathered well and at the other end, former Liverpool striker Fabio Borini went close to equalising from a tight angle but Samir Handanovic was equal to the task.
The rivals went into the interval with Inter holding the a slender advantage, one that would evaporate within 10 minutes of the second-half.
Vincenzo Montella sent on young striker Patrick Cutrone for Franck Kessie at half-time and the substitute was a real livewire from the moment he stepped onto the pitch.
Suso, who had gone close with a shot from distance, would find the back of the net with his second effort. His curling shot from the edge of the box kept low and beat Handanovic to put Milan back on level terms.
Inter responded with a concerted effort and should have restored their lead when Candreva’s low cross found Vecino in the box but the resulting effort was wide of the frame.
Giacomo Bonaventura forced a fine save from Handanovic on the other end but the goal came from Icardi once again. The Argentine hit-man’s scissor-kick volley from an Ivan Perisisc in the 63rd minute was of the highest quality and good enough to be the winner in any game.
Milan, however, were not done just yet and pressed for an equalier. The Rossoneri would be rewarded for their efforts when Bonaventura turned in Borini’s cross at the far-post, with the normally-redoubtable Handanovic failing to gather properly and allowing the ball to trickle over the line.
Milan thought they had secured a draw at least but there was to be a sting in the tale as Ricardo Rodriguez’s hands-on marking of Danilo D’Ambrosio off a 89th-minute corner was adjudged to be penalty-worthy.
Icardi stepped up with ease and sent Donnarumma the wrong way in the 90th minute to cap off a memorable evening for himself and Inter.