Inter fight back to beat Udinese and maintain perfect start
· Yahoo Sports
Inter Milan produced another rousing comeback to beat Udinese 5-3 at San Siro and continue their perfect start to the new Serie A campaign.
Udinese had taken a shock 2-0 lead through James Abankwah's early header and then a close-range strike from Jurgen Ekkelenkamp.
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The Nerazzurri - who had come from 2-0 down to beat Napoli late on in their last Serie A game - fought back as Carlos Augusto drilled in a long-range effort and Nicolo Barella equalized before half-time.
Marcus Thuram's sweeping finish completed the turnaround in the 57th minute, before England defender John Stones - making a first start since his free transfer move from Manchester City - limped off having pulled up after chasing an Udinese breakaway.
Pio Esposito and substitute Ange-Yoan Bonny then wrapped things up, with Idrissa Gueye scoring a late consolation for the visitors, as Cristian Chivu's men kept pace with leaders Roma on a 100% record from four league games.
Udinese had earlier stunned the San Siro faithful when Republic of Ireland defender Abankwah sent a looping header over Inter keeper Josep Martinez from a short corner after nine minutes.
Inter were almost swiftly back on level terms when Thuram's downward header was saved at the near post by Udinese keeper Maduka Okoye, who also showed great reactions to block the striker's follow-up effort.
Udinese then doubled their lead in the 16th minute when Ekkelenkamp slotted in from close range past Martinez after being picked out by Keinan Davis.
Inter - beaten at Real Madrid in their opening Champions League match last week - reduced the deficit in the 26th minute through Augusto's fine long-range effort into the far corner.
Barella had the home side level 10 minutes before half-time when he picked up Thuram's lay-off in the right side of the box, stumbled back to his feet and fired in an angled strike.
Inter's relentless second-half pressure eventually told when Andy Diouf broke down the right and into the Udinese penalty area before cutting the ball back for Thuram to roll a low shot into the far corner.
Stones was then replaced by Benjamin Pavard in the 62nd minute after he went down, clutching the back of his thigh, having chased an Udinese breakaway.
Inter added a fourth in the 67th minute when Piotr Zielinski's quick pass found Esposito to dispatch a low finish.
With 10 minutes left, Inter broke down the left and Bonny reacted quickest to lash home a loose ball after his initial shot had been saved by Okoye, before Gueye grabbed a late consolation for Udinese in stoppage time.
Inter boss Cristian Chivu confirmed Stones would have to be fully assessed to determine the extent of the issue. "I don't know, I haven't had a chance to talk to him," Chivu said on DAZN.
"I think he felt something on his flexor (muscle), and he will probably need to get some tests done."
Roma remain the only other team with a 100% record after a first half opener from Donyell Malen and an added time strike from Niccolo Pisilli sealed an impressive 2-0 win at Torino.
Como stepped up to third place after extending their unbeaten start with a 2-1 win over Parma. Goals from Jacobo Ramon and Kaiki saw the hosts home before David Romero replied for the visitors in stoppage time.