Inter Milan's U20 team had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Udinese on December 18, 2024, after a match filled with near-misses and palpable tension. The game, played at Inter's home ground, saw the Nerazzurri dominate much of the play, but luck was not on their side as they faced off against struggling rivals Udinese.
The first half started brightly for Inter, with the team creating early chances. Just two minutes in, they came close through Ezio Zarate, who headed narrowly wide from a Della Mora cross. The momentum stayed with Inter, as they maintained the pressure on the Udinese defense. Shortly after, Marco De Pieri attempted to beat Udinese goalkeeper Alessio Cassin with a left-footed shot from the edge of the box, but Cassin parried it away, denying what could have been the opening goal.
Despite their best efforts, the first half concluded goalless. Inter's dominance continued after the break, but Udinese struck first. With 57 minutes on the clock, Filippo Bonin capitalized on some sloppy defending to score the opener, finishing off a cross from Mohamed El Bouradi after the latter had danced past his marker. The goal jolted the hosts, who quickly upped the ante, determined to equalize.
Inter’s frustration grew as they hit the woodwork twice within minutes. Zarate hit the post from outside the area at the 68th minute, and just two minutes later, De Pieri's header met the same fate. The visitors seemed to have weathered the storm until the moment of drama arrived: Spinaccé was fouled inside the box, prompting the referee to award Inter a penalty.
It was Spinaccé who stepped up to take the spot-kick, but to everyone's dismay, Cassin dived to the left and saved the penalty, denying the Nerazzurri once more. Inter's persistence, though, finally paid off late in the game. The equalizer came just four minutes from time—Spinaccé redeemed himself by heading home from a corner taken by Topalovic, making it 1-1.
Post-match analysis highlighted Inter's missed opportunities, as they reflected on what could have been. "We created so many chances, and I feel we deserved the win. Hitting the post twice and missing the penalty was hard to take," remarked Spinaccé. His sentiments were echoed by coach Andrea Zanchetta, who noted the team’s inability to convert their advantages, especially when they were clearly the dominant side.
The draw leaves Inter Milan’s Primavera side with 31 points, trailing the league leaders Roma by two points. Meanwhile, Udinese, currently second from the bottom, gained only valuable point, raising their total to 8 points this season. Coach Igor Bubnjic admitted, "It was not our best performance, but we fought hard for this point against a strong team like Inter."
Looking forward, Inter will need to regroup as they prepare for their next matchup against Sassuolo, hoping to turn their significant chances created during this match, and convert them successfully to reclaim their position at the top of the table.
