Inter Milan vs Cagliari, final score 1-4: Cagliari conquer the San Siro in style

Four first half goals - including an unlikely hat-trick from Albin Ekdal condemned ten man Inter to their first defeat of the season and lifted Cagliari off the foot of Serie A. Yuto Nagatomo didn’t help his side’s cause when the stand in captain was dismissed for two silly fouls.

Before today, the Nerazzurri had conceded just one goal all season, while the Sardinians came into the game on the back of three successive defeats.

Inter president Erick Thohir was in the stands to see his side’s capitulation. Defensive pair Hugo Campagnaro and Jonathan were injured, while Andrea Ranocchia and Mauro Icardi were benched with Thursday’s Europa League commitments in mind.

In typical Zdenek Zeman fashion, the bullish Czech tactician began with a front three, but midfielders Daniele Conti and Sebastian Eriksson missed the trip through injury.

Zeman’s attacking gamble paid off when the visitors opened the scoring on ten minutes. Nagatomo deflected a long ball into the path of an unmarked Marco Sau, who spun round and beat Samir Handanovic with a powerful low finish.

Some fast thinking put Inter back on level terms eight minutes later. Rodrigo Palacio was fouled and took advantage of a napping Sardinian defence by taking a quick free kick, squaring the ball across the box for Daniel Osvaldo to tap in.

Nagatomo’s afternoon went from bad to worse. The Japanese international was dismissed for committing two needless fouls in the space of five minutes. Walter Mazzarri opted not to take a forward off and he would come to regret that decision, as Cagliari instantly re-took the lead. Daniele Dessena saw his shot parried, Sau held up the ball and Ekdal ran in front of Nemanja Vidic to fire in the rebound from close range.

Cagliari made it three on 34 minutes. Victor Ibarbo used his strength to shrug off Dodo and his cut back was smashed into the net by Ekdal. Inter temporarily went down to nine men when Dodo limped off. The defender succumbed to a knee injury just as Vidic slid in on Sau in the area. The referee pointed to the spot and Handanovic guessed right to keep out Andrea Cossu’s spot kick. However, it was only a temporary reprieve. Less than a minute later, Vidic was found wanting as a corner wasn’t cleared, allowing an unmarked Ekdal to convert the chance and collect the match ball.

Antonio Balzano instinctivelty stuck out a knee to prevent Marco Andreolli’s header crossing the line on the stroke of half time.

Osvaldo had an early second half effort disallowed for being one of two players in an offside position. Cagliari didn’t rest on their laurels and looked to score more goals. Hernanes was forced to run back to clear a Cossu effort off the line.

Alessio Cragno was called into action when he kept out a Palacio volley. Cagliari substitute Diego Farias almost made an instant impact when he ran onto a long ball, but the Brazilian let it run and sent his effort into the side netting.

Cragno bravely rushed out to deny Osvaldo and took a kick to the head for his trouble, while Danilo D’Ambrosio lifted his effort into Row Z. Late on, Osvaldo’s touch deserted him, as the forward fired off target.

Inter Milan: Handanovic; Andreolli, Vidic, Juan Jesus; Nagatomo, Hernanes, Medel, (Guarin 46) Kovacic, Dodò; (D’Ambrosio 43) Palacio, (Icardi 69) Osvaldo

Goals: Osvaldo 18

Sent off: Nagatomo 27

Cagliari: Cragno; Balzano, Ceppitelli, Rossettini, Avelar; Dessena, (Joao Pedro 90) Crisetig, Ekdal; Ibarbo, (Farias 68) Sau, (Longo 73) Cossu

Goals: Sau 10, Ekdal 29, 34, 44

Missed penalty: Cossu 43