10-man Bologna shock Inter Milan's slim Serie A title hopes

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Why Lukaku and Martinez aren't to blame for Inter's loss

Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens explain why Romelu Lukaku shouldn't be the focus of Inter's loss to Bologna.


Bologna's Gambian duo Musa Juwara and Musa Barrow scored in the last 20 minutes to give the 10-man visitors an unlikely 2-1 win over Inter Milan who once again threw away a match that seemed to be theirs for the taking in Serie A on Sunday.

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The contest turned on a remarkable double save by Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski who stopped a Lautaro Martinez penalty and parried away Roberto Gagliardini's effort from the rebound when Inter were leading and playing with a man extra.

The defeat almost certainly ended Inter's lingering title hopes as it left them with 64 points from 30 games, 11 adrift of leaders Juventus and four points behind second-placed Lazio.

"I really want to thank the coach for showing me that trust," said 18-year-old substitute Juwara, who according to Italian media reports arrived in Sicily by boat as an unaccompanied 14-year-old after leaving his homeland in 2016.

"I'm really happy to score my first goal, which I want to dedicate to my family and all those who have helped me on my journey. This is a dream for me and a day I'll remember for the rest of my life."

Inter Milan squandered another game in their loss to Bologna.
Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

It was all too familiar for Antonio Conte's side who missed an open goal and twice squandered the lead in a 3-3 draw at home to Sassuolo last month.

There was a long delay before Conte spoke to the press and some Italian media reports said he was involved in a meeting with club directors.

"It's right to question all of us, first of all me because I was called to bring Inter back to victory after so many years," he said. "Of course, it won't happen overnight but this situation brings a lot of bitterness.

"We have not reached the standard we set ourselves. Everyone has to show they want to rise above the past years, otherwise it's right to make other decisions".

In a match played in sweltering heat, the first half went pretty much as expected with Romelu Lukaku giving Inter a 22nd minute lead with his 20th league goal of the season.

The Belgian striker reacted quickly to prod in the rebound after Martinez's header hit the post.

After Barrow also struck the woodwork early in the second half for Bologna, the game seemed to turn Inter's way when the visitors had Roberto Soriano sent off in the 57th minute after a verbal exchange with the referee.

The hosts were awarded a soft penalty five minutes later after Antonio Candreva went tumbling over under the lightest of challenges but Skorupski's remarkable double save changed the course of the match.

The equaliser came from in the 74th minute from a throw in when the hapless Gagliardini missed the ball trying to clear and 18-year-old Juwara lashed home for his first Bologna goal.

Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni was sent off for a second bookable offence three minutes later before Bologna's Nicolas Dominguez released Barrow who slotted a neat finish past goalkeeper Samir Handanovic with 10 minutes left.