Mateo Kovacic had never scored for Inter, but grabbed a hat-trick in their 6-0 Europa League win over Stjarnan.
The Nerazzurri had already won the first leg 3-0 in Iceland and therefore performed a few experiments, using Kovacic behind Daniel Osvaldo. Stjarnan said they were going to have fun at San Siro and picked a very attacking line-up with four strikers.
Mateo Kovacic had never scored for Inter, but grabbed a hat-trick in their 6-0 Europa League win over Stjarnan.
The Nerazzurri had already won the first leg 3-0 in Iceland and therefore performed a few experiments, using Kovacic behind Daniel Osvaldo. Stjarnan said they were going to have fun at San Siro and picked a very attacking line-up with four strikers.
Osvaldo had a great opportunity to score, as his header cracked against the crossbar from a Yuto Nagatomo assist, then curled a fine effort just off target.
Kovacic celebrated his first official goal in an Inter jersey, alert to turn in after a series of ricochets in the penalty area.
That really broke his drought and he took full advantage, scoring another fantastic goal just five minutes later. This time he got on the end of an Osvaldo backheel flick, skipped past two challenged and placed a classy lob over the on-rushing goalkeeper.
Yann M’Vila went close to breaking his Inter duck too, a shot whistling just wide, but at the dawn of the second half Osvaldo capped off a fine performance by nodding in a Nagatomo cross.
Nagatomo provided another smart assist soon after as Kovacic went from never scoring for Inter to getting a hat-trick, blasting home with his right foot.
Osvaldo tried to replicate Kovacic’s earlier goal, but his lob was cleared off the line. Mauro Icardi got in on the act, holding off Johannsson to turn and smash an unstoppable right-foot strike into the far top corner.
Icardi completed his brace on a Jonathan assist to chip the unfortunate Stjarnan goalkeeper. The Argentine wanted a hat-trick, but this time Ingvar Jonsson was able to smother.
Inter 6-0 Stjarnan (9-0 on agg)
Scorers: Kovacic 28, 33, 51 (I), Osvaldo 47 (I), Icardi 69, 80 (I)
Inter: Carrizo; Andreolli, Ranocchia, Juan Jesus; D'Ambrosio, Hernanes (Jonathan 67), M'Vila, Obi (Kuzmanovic 58), Nagatomo; Kovacic (Icardi 53); Osvaldo
Stjarnan: Jonsson; Vemmelund, Rauschenberg, D Laxdal, Arnason; Finsen (Aegisson 64), A Johansson (Runarsson 64), Punyed, Bjorgvinsson; Gunnarsson (G Johannsson 59), Toft
Ref: Lechner (AUT)