Alexis tallies goal, 2 assists in Inter’s 6-0 rout of Brescia
Milan, Jul 1 (efe-epa).- Alexis Sanchez scored a goal from the penalty spot and also was credited with two assists in Inter Milan’s 6-0 drubbing of lowly Brescia in Serie A action here Wednesday.
Shortly after it was announced that Alexis’ loan deal from Manchester United has been extended until the end of the Italian-league season in early August, the Chilean showed signs of having overcome his injury woes and recovered his best form.
The 31-year-old forward went the distance in the behind-closed-doors match at San Siro that Antonio Conte’s men completely dominated after last-place Brescia had one early scoring opportunity.
Ashley Young, who also was Alexis’ teammate at Man United, volleyed home the opening goal in the fifth minute after receiving a perfectly placed cross from the Chilean, who then doubled Inter’s lead in the 20th minute by converting from the 12-yard mark.
A header by Danilo D’Ambrosio just before halftime stretched the home team’s advantage to 3-0, while Alexis delivered another accurate cross in the 52nd minute to set up a headed goal by Roberto Gagliardini.
Inter then continued to pile on late in the second half, with Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen scoring in the 83rd minute and Antonio Candreva adding one final goal in minute 88.
Afterward, Conte, said he was pleased with what he saw from Alexis on the pitch.
“We brought him here for his qualities. Unfortunately we lost him as an option for a long time. He’s now starting to find his feet, even if he’s still not the Sanchez I was such a big fan of in England. What I can say however, is that he’s on the right track, he put in a great performance today. Having all my forwards available makes me feel more relaxed,” the head coach was quoted as saying on Inter’s website.
Sanchez has now made 13 Serie A appearances – mostly as a substitute – and scored just two goals in a frustrating season in which he was out of action between October and January due to a left ankle injury sustained while on international duty.
With the win, Inter (64 points) moved to within four points of second-place Lazio in the Serie A standings.
The Black and Blues are still eight points behind league-leading and eight-time defending champion Juventus with nine games remaining in the coronavirus-interrupted season.
Elsewhere Wednesday, Cagliari’s Giovanni Simeone scored for the fourth consecutive game in the visitors’ 1-1 draw against Bologna at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.
The 24-year-old Argentine, son of longtime Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone, has now scored one goal in each game Cagliari has played since the resumption of the Serie A season on June 20.
The Sardinia-based club is currently ninth in the Serie A standings with 39 points, while Bologna is in 11th place with 38 points. EFE-EPA
am/mc
