Inter Milan celebrates the "Calcio" title at the "Udinese Festival" in the Italian league
Inter Milan officially celebrated its title of champion of the Italian Football League for the nineteenth time in its history and the first since 2010, with a scoring festival against its guest Udinese, 5-1 today in the last thirty-eighth stage.
Inter Milan first scored in the eighth minute through its former English international defender Ashley Young with a left-footed shot following a pass by Argentine international Lautaro Martinez, who fell from close range into the goal.
Danish international midfielder Christian Eriksen boosted the hosts' lead with a second goal a minute before the end of the first half, with a direct free kick.
Inter Milan continued to dominate in the second half and won a penalty kick after Moroccan international defender Ashraf Hakimi was blocked in the region by Dutchman Marvin Tsiklar Vanbri for her Martinis, scoring the third goal, raising his tally to 17 goals this season.
Croatian international winger Ivan Perisic added the fourth goal with a right-footed shot from inside the area, after a pass from the Uruguayan international midfielder Matthias Vicino, before the Belgian international Romelu Lukaku scored the fifth goal from close range when the Chilean international Alexis Sanchez played a fallen ball that hit the left post and bounced back from Lukaku to Inside the goal.
Lukaku strengthened his position in second place on the scorers' list with 24 goals, five goals behind Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese international, the leaders. Udinese won a penalty after resorting to the video assistant referee after a handball on Eriksen, and the other Argentine, Roberto Pereira, successfully approached it.
It is Inter Milan's 28th victory this season in exchange for only seven draws and three defeats, collecting 91 points, 11 points ahead of the closest pursuers Atalanta.
Atalanta has guaranteed being among the top four and thus the second qualifying card for the Champions League competition next season, while Napoli and Milan (both have 76 points) and Juventus are competing for the remaining two cards. Napoli will play with its host Verona, and Juventus with host Bologna.
Milan and Napoli need to win to ensure the remaining two cards, regardless of the outcome of the Juventus match, which is threatened with absenteeism from the prestigious continental competition, and later Sassuolo will also play with Lazio, Spezia with Roma, and Turin with Benevento.
Rome (AFP)
