Inter were left ruing a poor performance in the second half as they let slip a lead in stoppage time to draw 2-2 against Monza in Serie A yesterday evening.

As reported in today’s newspaper edition of Tuttosport, the Nerazzurri had themselves to blame for squandering the win, with the performance after the break being likened to that of a preseason friendly game.

The draw came off the back of a crucial 1-0 win over league leaders Napoli on Wednesday, and it is argued that this made the concession of a goal in the 93rd minute all the more bitter, as Inter had started to claw back the gap on the Partenopei.

Inter were not helped by injuries to midfielders Nicolo Barella and Hakan Calhanoglu, but ought to have seen out the match without letting two points slip.

However, the newspaper admitted that the game was turned by a refereeing mistake by Juan Luca Sacchi, as he disallowed a Francesco Acerbi goal that would have seen the Nerazzurri go 3-1 up.

The centre-back turned the ball home in the second half but play was stopped before it crossed the line, with Roberto Gagliardini adjudged to have fouled Pablo Mari.

Replays showed that Mari was tripped by his own teammate, Armando Izzo, but VAR could not intervene to overturn the decision as the whistle had been blown before the ball went into the net.