Atalanta 2 - 1 Inter Milan: Atalanta snatch late winner to turn up heat on Inter boss De Boer

Posted Sunday, October 23, 2016 by PA

Frank de Boer's future as Inter Milan head coach is under serious threat after the Nerazzurri went down 2-1 to Atalanta in Bergamo.

Hardcore fans have been protesting loudly against a team languishing in mid-table in Serie A, while the club's new Chinese owners have been conspicuously quiet amid reports they are unconvinced by the former Ajax manager, who was hired to deliver an overdue Scudetto.

Mauricio Pinilla may have struck a decisive blow against the Dutchman with a match-winning 87th-minute penalty, which Samir Handanovic almost saved, after Davide Santon fouled Franck Kessie. Atalanta had earlier taken the lead through Andrea Masiello before Eder's thunderous shot levelled the scores after the break.

After securing only one point from Inter's last three league matches, De Boer's job was at risk heading into Thursday's Europa League meeting with Southampton, which the Nerazzurri won 1-0 to ease the pressure on their boss.

Yet the familiar strain returned inside 10 minutes of play at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia as Masiello nodded Jasmin Kurtic's assist home at the far post.

Atalanta might have doubled up heading into the break, but Andrea Conti could not repeat Masiello's trick from a Boukary Drame cross.

De Boer, who might have lost Gary Medel to a red card had the Chilean's elbow on Kurtic been noticed by the referee, appeared to have reorganised his side over the break and his instructions paid immediate dividends.

Eder won a free-kick from Abdoulay Konko before receiving Marcelo Brozovic's dead-ball pass and launching a fierce drive into the back of the hosts' net.

Gian Piero Gasperini - a former Inter boss - was sent to the stands for complaining and did not see Handanovic deny Konko a headed goal on the hour.

Inter eventually began to put some flowing moves together and with 10 minutes to go Ivan Perisic launched Mauro Icardi's lay-off into Etrit Berisha's gloves.

It was not to be the visitors' day, however, as Pinilla condemned them to a fourth defeat of the season with his spot-kick three minutes from time.