Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Reuters
Reuters
Sport

Barella rescues Inter with stoppage-time equaliser against Slavia

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group F - Inter Milan v SK Slavia Prague - San Siro, Milan, Italy - September 17, 2019 Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella in action with SK Slavia Prague's Abdulla Yusuf Helal and Vladimir Coufal REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

MILAN (Reuters) - Substitute Nicolo Barella scored a stoppage-time equaliser on his Champions League debut to rescue a dramatic 1-1 draw for Inter Milan at home to Slavia Prague in their opening Champions League group game on Tuesday.

The Czech champions, beaten on all six previous visits to Italy, took a shock lead through Peter Olayinka in the 63rd minute to stun the San Siro in the Group F match.

Inter, eliminated in the group stage last season, were struggling to find a reply until Barella fired in the rebound in the second minute of stoppage time.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group F - Inter Milan v SK Slavia Prague - San Siro, Milan, Italy - September 17, 2019 Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella celebrates scoring their first goal with Matteo Politano and Valentino Lazaro REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Despite Inter's relief, they may still come to regret the loss of two home points in a group which also includes Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona.

"That wasn't our football," said Inter coach Antonio Conte who saw his 100 percent record ended in his fourth game at the club. "We need more personality and we need to improve."

"We didn't do any of what we practised and I am absolutely not satisfied. We have so much work to do."

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group F - Inter Milan v SK Slavia Prague - San Siro, Milan, Italy - September 17, 2019 Inter Milan's Danilo D'Ambrosio in action with SK Slavia Prague's Peter Olayinka REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Stefan de Vrij and Danilo D'Ambrosio both missed good chances for Inter in the opening half hour before Slavia Prague, Europa League quarter-finalists last season, began to impose themselves.

They took a deserved lead as Olayinka cut the ball back to Jaroslav Zeleny whose shot was saved by Samir Handanovic and fell to the Nigerian, who turned in the rebound.

Nicolae Stanciu nearly added a second from a free kick but it was Inter who levelled.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group F - Inter Milan v SK Slavia Prague - San Siro, Milan, Italy - September 17, 2019 SK Slavia Prague's Peter Olayinka celebrates scoring their first goal as Inter Milan's Stefano Sensi, Milan Skriniar and team mates look dejected REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Stefano Sensi curled a free kick against the crossbar and the rebound fell kindly to Barella, who met it first time and scored with a shot which bounced into the net.

"If we look at the whole match, then the draw is probably fair, because Inter had some chances too," said Slavia defender Vladimir Coufal. "But after we survived this, it is a big pity to concede such an equaliser during added time."

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group F - Inter Milan v SK Slavia Prague - San Siro, Milan, Italy - September 17, 2019 SK Slavia Prague's Nicolae Stanciu in action with Inter Milan's Marcelo Brozovic REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

(Writing by Brian Homewood; Editing by Toby Davis)

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group F - Inter Milan v SK Slavia Prague - San Siro, Milan, Italy - September 17, 2019 SK Slavia Prague's Vladimir Coufal in action with Inter Milan's Milan Skriniar REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo
Soccer Football - Champions League - Group F - Inter Milan v SK Slavia Prague - San Siro, Milan, Italy - September 17, 2019 Inter Milan coach Antonio Conte before the match REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.