MILAN (Interstat) — Inter U19 beat Shakhtar Donetsk U19 2-0 on Wednesday, using a first-half stoppage-time goal from Alen Vukaj and a second-half strike by Cristian Carrara to secure the home victory. Inter improved its competition record to 1 win, 0 losses and 1 draw, while Shakhtar fell to 0 wins and 2 losses in the competition. Across all competitions, Inter is now 1 win, 0 losses and 1 draw, and Shakhtar is 0 wins, 2 losses and 3 draws. Shakhtar Donetsk U19 was kept off the scoreboard, while Inter U19 finished with two goals.

Inter opened the scoring in the first minute of first-half stoppage time when Vukaj found the net. Vukaj played 80 minutes before being substituted. The goal gave Inter a lead at the break, and Shakhtar’s efforts to respond were complicated by disciplinary trouble. Belik O. was shown a yellow card in the 22nd minute and then received a red card in the 67th minute, leaving Shakhtar Donetsk U19 a player down. The dismissal was the pivotal moment of the second half, and Inter capitalized eight minutes later.

Carrara scored in the 75th minute, with Edoardo Evangelista providing the assist. Carrara played the full 90 minutes. Evangelista had entered as a substitute and recorded the assist in 18 minutes of action. In descending order of importance, Inter’s key performances came from Carrara with one goal in 90 minutes, Vukaj with one goal in 80 minutes and Evangelista with one assist in 18 minutes. Carrara’s goal capped the scoring and gave Inter a two-goal cushion.

Inter’s first-half discipline included yellow cards for Cerpelletti F. in the 17th minute and Galliera C. in the 19th minute. Lissi T. also was booked in the 43rd minute. Shakhtar’s Belik O. was booked in the 22nd minute and Mylokost Y. in the 30th minute. Belik’s red card in the 67th minute followed. Shakhtar Donetsk U19 could not produce a goal despite playing portions of the match with a one-man disadvantage. Inter’s defense held firm after the second goal, and Shakhtar could not cut into the lead. Shakhtar’s best chances did not produce a goal, and Inter protected the shutout through the final whistle.

The teams made a series of second-half changes. Inter brought on Grisoni Fasana M. in the 54th minute. Shakhtar made substitutions in the 63rd minute with Shukalovych S. and Petruk D. Inter then made two changes in the 72nd minute, bringing on Lissi T. and El Mahboubi A. Shakhtar responded in the 77th minute with Harmash Y. and Derykon A. Inter made substitutions in the 80th minute with Sorino D. and Vukaj A. Shakhtar’s final substitution came in the 83rd minute with Zubriy A. Both sides used their benches as the second half progressed, with Inter making five substitutions and Shakhtar making five. The changes did not alter the score.

Shakhtar Donetsk U19 had entered the match after an AEK U19 victory and a draw with Rukh Lviv U19, and it also had a draw at Obolon Kiev U19 this season. Inter U19 had drawn with Club Brugge U19 in its previous competition match. Shakhtar’s next scheduled match is at Oleksandriya U19 in U19 League play on Wednesday. Inter’s victory gave it a positive result after the draw in its prior competition fixture.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Inter U19 1, Shakhtar Donetsk U19 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Shakhtar Donetsk U19 with an 89.2 percent probability to win. Inter U19 had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.25. The total score of 2 went over the over-under line of 3.5.