Inter closes gap after Venezia is denied late on
Lautaro Martinez's fifth goal of the season saw Inter Milan move to within a point of Serie A leader Napoli, but a 1-0 win over Venezia came with huge controversy right at the death.
Marin Sverko thought he had cancelled out Martinez's header in the final minute of second-half stoppage-time, only for the goal to be ruled out by VAR for handball.
The hosts made a bright start to proceedings and almost took the lead early on when Martinez flashed an effort narrowly wide of the far post.
Inter continued to create the better chances, with Alessandro Bastoni firing over from distance before Federico Dimarco saw his strike saved by Filip Stankovic.
Venezia offered a threat on the break, though, and almost found the opener through Gaetano Oristanio, but his point-blank effort was brilliantly clawed away by Yann Sommer.
However, the visitors' resilience was finally broken in the 65th minute when Dimarco's teasing delivery picked out Martinez, who nodded home his fifth goal of the season.
But there was late drama at San Siro. Venezia thought it had snatched a draw when Ridgeciano Haps's cross was headed into the net by Sverko.
But upon further inspection by VAR, it ruled the ball had struck the forearm of the visiting defender as he challenged with Yann Bisseck, with Inter able to hold on to claim a controversial, but huge win for its Scudetto ambitions.
