Inter denied, Lopez heroic in derby stalemate

Inter Milan were denied a second-half penalty and AC Milan goalkeeper Diego Lopez performed heroics as an entertaining 'Derby della Madonnina' finished scoreless on Sunday.

Inter, sitting a point behind Milan in 10th place as both teams continue their battle for a place in Europe, completely dominated an entertaining second half at a packed San Siro.

But despite a strong penalty shout after the ball came off the hand of Milan defender Luca Antonelli in the box, Roberto Mancini's men were forced to settle for a share of the points.

Inter are now eight points behind Sampdoria in the last Europa League spot with seven games remaining and although he was quick to praise Lopez, coach Roberto Mancini said the hosts were robbed.

"Diego Lopez had a really good game... but the penalty was a penalty, there's no question about it," said Mancini.

"Maybe the referee didn't really see the incident well but the goalline official had a clear view and failed to rule in our favour."

Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi admitted Inter shaded the match but refused to be drawn on the penalty incident.

"We should have taken the chances we created in the opening half, because Inter had us pegged back in our own end for most of the second," said Inzaghi.

"I don't want to talk about incidents in the game. The referee had a good game tonight.

"A derby is always complicated, especially when both sides are desperate for the win, but for me it was a fair result."

Mancini left both Lukas Podolski and Xherdan Shaqiri on the bench, with Ivory Coast teenager Assane Gnoukouri making his first derby start on the right of a three-man midfield alongside Gary Medel and Mateo Kovacic.

Milan started without Japan international Keisuke Honda with striker Mattia Destro also on the bench following an injury worry last week that meant Suso started up front alongside Jeremy Menez and Giacomo Bonaventura.

Inter started at breakneck speed and Gnoukouri did well to set up Rodrigo Palacio for a drive that was blocked while moments later Hernanes unleashed a stunner from 35 yards that required a two-handed flying save from Lopez.

At the other end, Menez swept the ball across to Suso for the Spaniard to unleash a drive that forced Samir Handanovic into a diving save.

Milan had the ball in the net on the half hour when Alex bundled home amid a goalmouth melee but an offside flag was up.

Inter started the second half as they had the first as Palacio fired the ball past Lopez following a great move involving Kovacic and Mauro Icardi, but it was ruled offside.

The hosts were in total command and Palacio did a great job rounding his marker but with Lopez beaten, the Argentinian's strike was kept out by Antonelli.

Inter were then denied a stonewall penalty after Hernanes's first-time shot from 10 yards came off the hand of Antonelli.

The San Siro erupted again minutes later when an angled drive by Hernanes came off Philippe Mexes and landed in the back of the net, but joy turned to anger after the referee ruled that Palacio had in the meantime fouled Marco Van Ginkel.

Inter made light of those decisions and when Giacomo Bonaventura fell as Milan tried to clear, Juan Jesus fired an angled strike that Lopez parried at his far post.

Inter should have broken the deadlock from the resulting corner but Lopez somehow managed to block a close-range Joel Obi shot that had deflected off Palacio.

Mancini added: "Milan played for most of the second half in their own half, but to score we need more precision in our shooting."

In the dying minutes Milan substitute Destro saw a drive easily collected down low by Handanovic, while Icardi should have done better after controlling a high ball on the edge of the area only to fire wide.
Source: AFP