Inter Milan might not be the European giants they once were, but let’s not take too much away from Southampton’s achievements on a famous European night at St Mary’s.
Claude Puel’s team looked set for disappointment once more after losing 1-0 at the San Siro, as Mauro Icardi put the visitors ahead and Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanović kept out a Dušan Tadić penalty.
3 – Samir Handanovic has saved all three penalties he has faced in the Europa League for Inter Milan. Unstoppable.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 3, 2016
But the English side kept plugging away after the break and turned the game on its head with two goals in six second-half minutes.
Virgil van Dijk fired home the equaliser, reacting quickest after Oriol Romeu hit the crossbar, and the winner came when Inter’s experienced full-back Yuto Nagatomo nudged the ball beyond Handanović and into his own net.
Southampton fans were overjoyed by the result, which puts their Europa League fate in their own hands with two games remaining. It doesn’t matter that this Inter are managerless and in the bottom half of Serie A – beating them is still a massive deal.
https://twitter.com/AFHStewart/status/794298553707466753
My home town club just beat Inter Milan. What a time to be alive.
— Darryl (@LordMoloch) November 3, 2016
Literally had the best night of my life, can't believe 6 years ago yesterday we beat Dagenham 1-0 and we beat Inter today!#saintsfc #COYR 😁
— Joe Mylward (@MylwardUk) November 3, 2016
Guys guys guys guys guys guys guys guys guys guys guys guys guys guys guys guys guys guys guys guys guys
We just fucking beat Inter Milan.
— Chris (@chrs00) November 3, 2016
Puel’s team are three points clear of Inter after the win, and will guarantee themselves a place in the knockout stages with four points from their upcoming games against Sparta Prague and Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
Win both and they’ll top the group. And here we were saying the new version of ‘Southampton In Europa’ wouldn’t make a difference.
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