Flare in the Air: Audero Hit but Inter Cruise to 2-0 Win Over Cremonese

Picture this: you're a top-flight keeper, minding your own business in the penalty area, and bam – a flare from the away end smacks you right in the leg. That's the madcap moment that halted Cremonese vs Inter Milan on Sunday, as reported by ESPN News Services. But credit to Emil Audero, the home stopper, he dusted himself off and carried on, even if his right ear was ringing like a post-match karaoke session.

The drama unfolded at the Stadio Giovanni Zini in Cremona, right at the kick-off of the second half. Play was drifting through midfield when some daft sort in the Inter away section launched the pyrotechnic straight into the box. Refs hit pause, medics sprinted on, and Inter lads rushed to check on their former teammate – Audero had a loan spell at the San Siro last season, after all.

The Firework Fiasco and Fan Frenzy

Audero hit the deck in pain and shock, clutching a gash on his right leg. He was mouthing to the docs that his right ear had gone deaf – nasty stuff. Meanwhile, Inter coach Cristian Chivu and his players were turning to the stands, basically begging the ultras to chill out.

Three minutes later, after Audero gave the away fans a proper shake of the head – the universal 'what the hell, lads?' gesture – we were back underway. No red cards for the flare-thrower, mind, which had the neutrals scratching their heads. Italian football and its pyros, eh? Always one for the highlight reel, just not the good kind.

Inter's Ruthless Rout

Despite the chaos, it was Inter, the Serie A frontrunners, who bossed the shop. They struck first in the 16th minute when Lautaro Martinez rose like a salmon to bullet-header home Federico Dimarco's whipped-in corner. Proper poacher's finish that – Audero had no chance.

The Nerazzurri doubled up just after the half-hour. Piotr Zielinski, the Polish midfield maestro, latched onto Luis Henrique's clever pass from deep, took one touch 30 yards out, and unleashed a left-footed screamer into the top bin. Keeper nowhere – pure class, that one. 2-0 at the break, and Inter looking every bit the title favourites.

Cremonese had a sniff post-flare when Alessio Zerbin stung the palms of Yann Sommer, but that was their best go. Martinez could've had a hat-trick, fluffing a header wide before Audero pulled off a cracker to deny him one-on-one. Still, job done for the visitors.

Eight Points Clear: Inter's Title Charge Rolls On

The 2-0 win leaves Inter eight points clear at the summit after Matchday whatever-we're-on. Cremonese, battling relegation shadows, showed grit but couldn't breach the blue wall. Chapeau to Audero for soldiering on – bloke's a warrior.

This one's got tongues wagging about fan behaviour in Italy. Flares are as common as espresso there, but hitting your own ex-player? Rookie error. Serie A chiefs might fancy a word with Inter's curva. Still, footy's about the footy, and Inzaghi's lot are purring. Next up, they keep the pedal down while rivals slip on banana skins.

Fancy a pint to toast that Zielinski rocket? Cheers to survival stories and Scudetto dreams.