<
>

Stevan Jovetic nets brace as Inter come from behind to beat Udinese

Inter Milan kept alive their hopes of finishing in the top three in Serie A with a 3-1 home victory against Udinese.

Cyril Thereau stunned the San Siro by putting the visitors ahead early on but Stevan Jovetic's double turned the game on its head and Eder added a third goal in injury time, but not before Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic had produced a brilliant save to deny Duvan Zapata and preserve his side's advantage.

On the eve of his 33rd birthday, Thereau opened the scoring after nine minutes. Emmanuel Badu clipped a pass forward from inside the centre circle and Thereau took it brilliantly, striking the ball first time on the volley from just inside the penalty area as it dropped over his shoulder.

Inter responded well and Udinese keeper Orestis Karnezis had to push away a fierce shot from Geoffrey Kondogbia.

There was little he could do to stop the equalising goal after 36 minutes, though. Mauro Icardi controlled the ball and turned down the left-hand side of the penalty area and his shot was across goal but resulted in the perfect pass for Jovetic who simply tapped the ball home from three yards out.

Icardi then headed over as Inter finished the first half strongly. The hosts began the second half well too as Marcelo Brozovic came close on two occasions, with the second effort bringing a brilliant reaction save from Karnezis.

Bruno Fernandes responded for Udinese with an effort that hit the crossbar before Jovetic gave Inter their lead in the 75th minute, chesting home a deflected Jonathan Biabiany cross.

Udinese should have equalised in injury time but Handanovic rushed from his line to deny Zapata from close range.

From the resulting counter attack, Brozovic put Eder through on goal and he beat Karnezis one-on-one to seal the win and move Inter to within four points of Roma, who occupy the final Champions League place.