INTER 4
Mkhitaryan 20, 72
Acerbi 42
Carboni 90
SALZBURG 0
INTER
S. Handanovic (73 A. Cordaz); R. Gagliardini (86 T. Guercio), E. Dzeko (73 J. Zuberek), R. Bellanova (80 N. Biral), F. Acerbi (86 A. Fontanarosa), H. Calhanoglu (46 K. Asllani), H. Mkhitaryan (80 A. Stankovic), N. Barella (73 V. Carboni), F. Dimarco (46 R. Gosens), M. Skriniar (86 S. Di Pentima), A. Bastoni (86 A. Pelamatti).
SALZBURG
N. Mantl (46 A. Stjeskal); S. Baidoo (75 K. Piatwoski), D. Kameri (63 R. Hofer), N. Seiwald (63 Z. Sano), M. Kjaergaard, K. Konate, S. Koita (32 R. Simic), L. Agyekum (63 T. Sahin), M. Wober (75 L. Wallner), A. Dedic (46 I. Van Der Brempt), Bernardo.
Referee Trustin Farrugia Cann.
Inter brought their training camp in Malta to an end after defeating FC Salzburg 4-0 in an international friendly at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.
In front of a sold-out crowd, Inter scored two goals in the first half to follow up Monday’s win against Gżira United.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who had a commanding showing, put Inter ahead before Francesco Acerbi doubled the lead. The former Roma player scored Inter’s third midway into the second half before youngster Valentin Carboni added Inter’s fourth and final goal.
For this game, Simone Inzaghi deployed a strong starting formation including the likes of Alessandro Bastoni, Milan Skriniar and Nicolo’ Barella.
Salzburg could not line up their best players given that majority of them are absent due to the World Cup participation and injuries.
Inter made their intentions clear from the start through Mkhitaryan who let fly a volley that was parried by Salzburg’s goalkeeper Nico Mantl, inside the first four minutes.
The Neroazzurri continued to pile the pressure on the Austrian side, with Raoul Bellanova firing a close-range effort which sailed over the bar.
Nonetheless, Inter managed to forge ahead through Armenian midfielder Mhkitaryan who met a well-weighted Federico Dimarco cross, sending into the far net.
Lawrence Agyekum of Salzburg and Dijon Kameri had an effort each as the Austrians were looking to level terms, but both players failed to test Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.
Their missed chances came back to haunt them as Simone Inzaghi’s side managed to score a second when Francesco Acerbi headed home a Hakan Calhanoglu’s freekick,
Just before the break, Edin Dzeko squandered a clear-cut opportunity to score Inter’s third when his low drive was blocked by Mantl.
After the break, Inter made two changes with Robin Gosens and Kristjan Asllani coming on. Salzburg, on their part, also made a change as they replaced Mantl with Adam Stjeskal between the sticks.
Mkhitaryan was unfortunate not to score Inter’s third when first he had a delightful lob disallowed for offside before missing from point-blank range moments later.
On the other hand, Handanovic came to Inter’s rescue when he blocked a Milan Skriniar’s deflection towards goal.
The Slovenian goalkeeper was forced into action again when denied Karim Konate from inside the penalty area.
Mhkitaryan scored Inter’s third when he tapped in a Dzeko header past Salzburg’s substitute goalkeeper Stjeskal.
In stoppage time, Inter made it 4-0 when Valentin Carboni scored from point-blank range to wrap the Nerazzurri’s victory.
