Terzo Tempo: Cigars out at the Castellani

Mauro Icardi, what a man/player/captain! Need I say anymore?

What a stellar first half performance by il capitano. We, dominated as expected and it started from the word go. Candreva had a few crosses early on and it was more than clear that an Inter goal was coming. Minutes later D’Ambrosio – who has to be praised for a solid performance overall – received the ball from Candreva and then sent it Icardi’s way. Icardi connected with diving header and gave Inter the early and deserved lead. This was also our first first half goal this season, is the de Boer way now in fruition?

Icardi doubled his and Inter’s tally for the night. A rather exquisite ball through the home sides defence from Joao Mario granted Icardi an easy chance one-on-one and he wasn’t going to miss it. The cigars were out at the Castellani and we’d only just got past the quarter of an hour mark.

Come about the half hour mark, we’d had a few other chances but failed to convert not that it really mattered with us already well ahead and Empoli offering little. Our very own Federico Dimarco, who was in the Azzurri lineup was clearly out to make a point and had two fine efforts at goal having darted forward. Over the entirety of the game Dimarco was popping up here and there and was one of few positives Empoli can probably take from the game. It is a real pity that they’ve an option to make his loan permanent and they’d be silly not to do so. He’s not the finished article just yet but he looks pretty good for an 18 year old alright.

Feed D’Ambrosio and Santon whatever they were fed today, EVERYDAY. Regardless of opposition being who they were, neither put a foot majorly wrong – although one is sure to be dropped for Ansaldi come Sunday and from there on out. The two Joao’s (Mario and Miranda) were both equally as excellent throughout the game. The former’s intelligence shone through and there were a few nice moments in play from him. The latter as always was the glue for the defence, putting in some important tackles especially on Pucciarelli who looked to have already decided how he’d be celebrating before our Brazilian cancelled those plans with a crunching tackle.

All in all it was a comfortable, energy saving second half. There was no need for us to spend long periods panicking about how to get back in to the game or whatever having got things done and dusted early on. Which raises the question can going all out in first half and calming things down in second half be a viable game plan for us? I mean, sure the second half was pretty lifeless but we cruised through the first half and if we’re winning games can anyone really complain? A win’s a win at the end of the day no matter how we play.