Andy Diouf emerged as the hero for Inter with two dramatic stoppage-time goals securing a 2-1 comeback victory over Karlsruher in a pre-season friendly in Germany. The French midfielder snatched victory from the jaws of defeat after Inter had trailed for much of the second half.
Second-Half Turnaround
Tim Civeja had earlier given the German hosts the lead with a clinical finish from a swift counter-attack. The goal came against the run of play after Inter had enjoyed the better of the early exchanges, with Yann Bisseck forcing a smart save from a Nicolò Barella assist during the first period.
Manager Cristian Chivu made sweeping alterations at the interval, fielding an entirely new eleven as he continues to evaluate his squad options ahead of the upcoming campaign. The second-half unit struggled to find their rhythm initially, creating few clear opportunities until the final minutes.
As the match entered its closing stages, Inter laid siege to the Karlsruher goal. Luka Topalovic and Benjamin Pavard both saw efforts saved by the goalkeeper, while the hosts’ Ramirez missed a glorious chance to double their advantage. With time running out, Diouf produced two moments of magic to turn the contest on its head.
The equaliser arrived when Dimarco’s corner was partially cleared to the edge of the area, where Diouf controlled the ball before firing a powerful drive through a crowded penalty area. Deep into added time, he completed the remarkable turnaround by curling a precise shot into the far corner with the inside of his left foot from inside the box.
Pre-season Progress
The fixture represented Inter’s second outing of the summer following a comprehensive 16-0 triumph over a local side in their German training base. Chivu has been utilising the camp to assess both experienced figures and younger talents, with Francesco Pio Esposito leading the line in the first half alongside senior players such as Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Barella.
The second-half introductions of Pavard, Alessandro Bastoni and Davide Frattesi demonstrated the depth at Chivu’s disposal, though it was Diouf who ultimately made the decisive impact. The midfielder, who has previously indicated he views himself primarily as a central midfielder, showcased his attacking instincts with two composed finishes under pressure.
The result maintains Inter’s perfect record during their pre-season preparations and provides a confidence boost ahead of further warm-up fixtures. The Nerazzurri will continue their German training camp before returning to Italy to finalise their preparations for the forthcoming competitive season.