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FRANKFURT – The hosts claim the inaugural Frankfurt Main Finance Cup. In front of 50,000 fans, Schaaf’s side – in their third meeting with Italian opposition in pre-season (following Sampdoria and Alessandria) – beat Inter 3-1.
Kovacic started the game as did Jonathan on the flank after Mazzarri experimented with his personnel in the middle of the park during the US tour. Inter saw most of the ball in the opening 10 minutes and Eintracht lay in wait. Mazzarri’s men then gradually crept forward.
Icardi burst forward on 11 minutes from a Ranocchia long ball but he was just beaten to it. Ten minutes later the hosts reponded. Handanovic made two big saves in quick succession. First he denied Seferovic from a tight angle, before he beat away Lanig’s header from the resulting corner.
Inter took the lead on 25 minutes, striking with a trademark counter attack. Kovacic won the ball back as the Germans looked to move forward. He played it to M’Vila who exchanged passes with Obi. The ball was then shifted out wide to Nagatomo who crossed for Botta. The Argentine arrived right on cue to sidefoot the ball first time into the far corner.
The home faithful at the Commerzbank Arena drove their team on and Eintracht equalised less than a minute later. Piazon burst clear on to a through ball, saw his first effort come back off the post, but he was on hand to follow up the rebound. Eintracht then seized on the momentum scoring twice more before the interval through a Seferovic double. The first half ended 3-1.
Inter rang the changes for the second period, switching to a back four. Ranocchia, Obi, Jonathan, Nagatomo and M’Vila all went off for Dodò, D’Ambrosio, Guarin, Laxalt and Krhin respectively. The second half was a similar story to the first. The Nerazzurri hogged possession while the Germans sat back. The match was bitty with little to report save a cross-cum-shot from Inui which flew over the bar and a Hernanes (on in place of Kovacic) free-kick on 64 minutes. There was no danger for Trapp however.
The Nerazzurri made more alterations as the game wore on with Vidic and Juan Jesus making way for Andreolli and Silvestre. There was still time for a nice move down the left by Dodò whose fine cross just eluded Botta. Handanovic also had to be alert to deny Flum’s effort.
The end of the match featured two intruders on the pitch before the referee blew for full time. Eintracht were left celebrating while Inter will fly off to Thessaloniki next week to play PAOK in their final pre-season outing before the Europa League play-offs.
Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 Inter (HT: 3-1)
Scorers: Botta 24, Piazon, 26, Seferovic 32 & 38.
Inter: Handanovic; Ranocchia (Guarin 46), Vidic (Andreolli 72), Juan Jesus (Silvestre 80); Jonathan (D’Ambrosio 46), Kovacic (Hernanes 61), M’Vila (Krhin 46), Obi (Laxalt 46), Nagatomo (Dodò 46); Botta; Icardi.
Subs not used: Carrizo, Berni.
Coach: Walter Mazzarri
Attendance: 50,000.
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