Romelu Lukaku's DIRE first touch in added time against Monza cracks up Inter team-mate Edin Dzeko
- last year
Edin Dzeko could not help laughing on the touchline after his Inter Milan team-mate Romelu Lukaku clumsily controlled the ball out of play against Monza on Saturday.
The out-of-form Belgian forward, who experienced a frustrating end to his World Cup campaign last month by missing a catalog of chances against Croatia, inadvertently controlled the ball off the pitch with his first touch whilst trying to keep hold of it in the closing stages of the match.
His dismal ball control brought about plenty of smiles on the substitutes' bench and triggered a wide grin from striker Dzeko, who was replaced by Lukaku midway through the second half with Inter leading 2-1.
However, the 29-year-old's mistake proved costly and soon all smiles were wiped off, as Monza launched a last-gasp attack and equalized moments later thanks to an own goal by Denzel Dumfries.
Had Lukaku kept hold of the ball, Inter may well have held on to the win and drawn level on points with arch-rivals Milan in third place.
Lukaku, who made no secret of his desire to return to Inter last year, re-joined the Serie A giants on loan from Chelsea following an acrimonious stint at Stamford Bridge.
The Belgian has since struggled for opportunities at the San Siro, suffering a hamstring injury in the two months before the World Cup.
His return against Napoli last weekend helped Simone Inzaghi's side chalk up a vital 1-0 victory against the league leaders, although Lukaku is still struggling to show off a fruitful goal record in Italy.
The ex-Chelsea and Manchester United hitman has only managed one goal in his six league matches so far this campaign and failed to score during his two appearances in Qatar.
Inter take on Parma in the last-16 of the Coppa Italia on Tuesday before hosting Verona in Serie A next weekend.
The out-of-form Belgian forward, who experienced a frustrating end to his World Cup campaign last month by missing a catalog of chances against Croatia, inadvertently controlled the ball off the pitch with his first touch whilst trying to keep hold of it in the closing stages of the match.
His dismal ball control brought about plenty of smiles on the substitutes' bench and triggered a wide grin from striker Dzeko, who was replaced by Lukaku midway through the second half with Inter leading 2-1.
However, the 29-year-old's mistake proved costly and soon all smiles were wiped off, as Monza launched a last-gasp attack and equalized moments later thanks to an own goal by Denzel Dumfries.
Had Lukaku kept hold of the ball, Inter may well have held on to the win and drawn level on points with arch-rivals Milan in third place.
Lukaku, who made no secret of his desire to return to Inter last year, re-joined the Serie A giants on loan from Chelsea following an acrimonious stint at Stamford Bridge.
The Belgian has since struggled for opportunities at the San Siro, suffering a hamstring injury in the two months before the World Cup.
His return against Napoli last weekend helped Simone Inzaghi's side chalk up a vital 1-0 victory against the league leaders, although Lukaku is still struggling to show off a fruitful goal record in Italy.
The ex-Chelsea and Manchester United hitman has only managed one goal in his six league matches so far this campaign and failed to score during his two appearances in Qatar.
Inter take on Parma in the last-16 of the Coppa Italia on Tuesday before hosting Verona in Serie A next weekend.