Serie A 21/22: Inter 2-1 Venezia

As is typical, the relegation battle in Serie A this season will likely be decided by just a few points or less.

If you’re on the wrong side of things, the math is a cold, unforgiving reality. Upon a look at the final standings, staring right back at you is every unlucky bounce and every unjust call, every shot off the post and every goal conceded late.

There is no margin for moral victories.

But sometimes, even through a loss, there's a performance that can galvanize a team and change the course of their march forward. And last night, on the hallowed ground at San Siro in Milan, Venezia may have put in that kind of performance.

In the week leading up to Saturday’s match away to Inter Milan, Venezia’s squad was struck by a Covid outbreak, which ultimately claimed manager Paolo Zanetti and nine first team players, making the prospect of facing the reigning champions and league leaders that much more daunting.

But as new cases mounted day after day, the club did not posture for a postponement, and president Duncan Niederauer would set the tone for the match by issuing a statement that read in part: “We are a club who respects the rules and the championship, and our players who are healthy are ready to fight and do their best. The team we will field is a strong one, and they are prepared to represent Venezia FC like the lions that we are.”

With that, there was a sense that some pressure was released from the squad, and it seemed to show when the match finally kicked off, as Venezia appeared remarkably loose under the circumstances.

While Inter immediately seized control of possession, Venezia, playing in a makeshift 3-5-2 formation, were organized and composed in defense, and they moved the ball out of the back with purpose. It quickly became clear, this wasn’t going to be a slaughter after all, and as an emboldened Venezia grew in confidence, they would take a shock lead in the 19th minute.

As Venezia surged forward on the counter-attack, Ethan Ampadu — starting as a right wing-back, in what’s been at least his fourth different role this season between midfield and defense — picked up his head and played a gem of a cross into the box that dropped in between Inter’s center-backs for striker Thomas Henry, who applied a powerful header back across the face of goal to beat a diving Samir Handanović.

Henry’s fourth goal of the season, from Ampadu’s third assist of the season, was just the second goal Inter had conceded in the last nine league matches, sending shockwaves through San Siro.

In response, Inter continually sought to play through the air for target man Edin Džeko, and though Venezia’s center-back trio of Pietro Ceccaroni, Marco Modolo, and Mattia Caldara held him in check for nearly the entire half, the towering Bosnian striker would be at the center of controversy on an equalizing goal in the 40th minute.

On a ball floated into Venezia’s end, Džeko rose up to head the ball down the right wing for Nicolò Barella, and in the process threw a brutal elbow to the head of Modolo, sending Venezia’s captain down to the pitch, but with no foul called. As the play continued, Barella pressed Ceccaroni into a turnover, which led to a Matteo Darmian cross that Ivan Perišić volleyed on goal, and despite a brilliant save from Luca Lezzerini, Barella was alone in front to put in the rebound — all while Modolo remained down. But there was nothing to be done.

It was a disappointing end to the half, but Venezia had to be satisfied with their performance and being level after 45 minutes.

The second half continued in the same vein, with Inter controlling possession and pumping crosses into the box, but without creating too much danger, as Venezia steadily absorbed the pressure.

Venezia’s midfield distributor A.J. Vacca had pulled up with an injury in the first half, but his replacement Luca Fiordilino would have a major impact on the match, playing with intensity and helping his midfielder partners Tanner Tessmann and Michaël Cuisance get forward when they could.

In the 65th minute, Venezia threatened to score again, when Tessmann carried the ball on a 50-meter run to lead the counter before setting up David Okereke, who maneuvered to fire a dangerous shot on goal that forced Handanović into a difficult save.

Tessmann and Cuisance put in hard-working shifts, and Venezia assistant manager Alberto Bertolini eventually replaced them with Sofian Kiyine and Dor Peretz in the 66th minute. In the 81st minute, Bertonlini introduced Nani and Arnór Sigurðsson, getting more fresh legs into the game for the final stretch.

As time ticked on, Venezia seemed destined for a massive result. But in the 90th minute, the champions would snatch it away in heartbreaking fashion.

Venezia’s latest signing Max Ullmann had been suddenly thrust into his Serie A debut just four days after being unveiled in Venice and acquitted himself very well on the night in the left wing-back role, but in the dying moments of the match the fresh legs of substitute Denzel Dumfries just barely beat Ullmann to the byline for Inter’s 32nd cross of the night, and who else but Džeko would be on the end of it, rising above everyone to head in a winner.

For Venezia, it was a devastatingly harsh result. But it was a heroic performance of character and quality that should only reinforce confidence, which may have possibly been waning just a bit through the ongoing winless streak.

As the league pauses for the international break, Venezia have an opportunity to get healthy and process the positives from the match, ahead of their return to action on 6 February when they host Napoli at Stadio Penzo in Giornata 24 of the 2021/22 Serie A season.

Inter Milan 2-1 Venezia
Scorers: Henry 19’, Barella 40’, Džeko 90’

Inter Milan (3-5-2): Handanović, Bastoni (Dimarco 46’), de Vrji, Škriniar, Darmian (Dumfries 73’), Barella (Vidal 72’), Brozović (Vecino 82’), Çalhanoğlu, Perišić, Martínez (Sánchez 73’), Džeko
Subs not used: Gagliardini, Kolarov, Sensi, Ranocchia, Cordaz, D'Ambrosio, Radu
Coach: Simone Inzaghi

Venezia(3-5-2): Lezzerini, Caldara, Modolo, Ceccaroni, Ullman, Ampadu, Cuisance (Peretz 66’), Vacca (Fiordilino 25’), Tessmann (Kiyine 66’), Okereke (Sigurðsson 82’), Henry (Nani 82’)
Subs not used: Mäenpää, Neri, Makadji, Molinaro, Mozzo, Pecile, Bah
Coach: Alberto Bertolini