CREMONA, Italy -- Inter Milan's match at Cremonese had to be halted Sunday for a few minutes after home goalkeeper Emil Audero was struck by a flare.
The incident happened at the start of the second half. Play was in the middle of the field when a flare was thrown from the away fans sector into the penalty area, striking Audero.
The game was immediately stopped and Audero rolled away in apparent pain and shock as the medical staff raced onto the field and his teammates ran to Cremonese's stricken goalkeeper.
Audero was able to get up and continue, but had a cut on his right leg and appeared to be telling the medical staff that he couldn't hear from his right ear.
Inter players and coach Cristian Chivu pleaded with the fans to behave.
Audero, who spent the 2023-24 season at Inter, turned and shook his head at the fans shortly before play resumed, three minutes after the incident.
Serie A leader Inter won the game 2-0 to finish the weekend eight points clear in first.
Inter took a 16th-minute lead when Lautaro Martinez sent a bullet of a header past Audero from Federico Dimarco's corner.
The title favourites doubled their advantage just after the half-hour mark with a spectacular strike from Piotr Zielinski.
The Poland midfielder collected Luis Henrique's in-field pass 30 yards from goal, took a touch and launched a left-foot rocket into the top corner.
After the firework incident Cremonese almost pulled one but Alessio Zerbin's shot was saved by Yann Sommer.
Martinez had two opportunities to add to Inter's lead, heading the first one over the crossbar while Audero made a fine save to keep out the second.
Information from The Associated Press and PA was used in this report.
