SOUTHAMPTON paid the price for a string of missed chances as their dreams of a famous win in the San Siro ended in disappointment last night.
Only six years ago Saints were plying their trade in League One while their hosts were en route to a Jose Mourinho-inspired treble.
But on the night it was Puel’s men who outplayed the Italian side, languishing in the bottom half of Serie A after a turbulent start to the season.
Academy product Sam McQueen was given a full debut to remember and almost forced an own-goal off goalkeeper Samir Handanovic before full-back Yuto Nagatomo mopped up on the line.
Moments later James Ward-Prowse whipped a strike narrowly over the bar as Saints refused to get overawed by the occasion.
Cuco Martina found plenty of crossing angles down the right and his best delivery skidded off Shane Long only for Rodriguez to fail to slide the ball home.
Top-scorer Austin was left on the bench by Puel but came on for the hobbling Long three minutes into the second half.
Austin’s journey from playing for non-league Poole Town just seven years ago to the San Siro was another notable story and the former bricklayer’s second touch had Handanovic sprawling but the ball drifted past a post.
But for all the hopes of a fairy tale finish, it was Inter who took the lead against the run of play as Candreva netted his maiden goal for the club with a neat left-foot finish after 67 minutes – the first Saints have conceded in the competition this season.
The hosts were forced to play the last 12 minutes a man light after Marcelo Brozovic was sent off for a pair of nasty tackles on Austin and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Dutchman Van Dijk was given the perfect opportunity to equalise and grab a deserving point but his one-on-one was struck straight at the keeper.
Centre-back Van Dijk went closer still when his towering header was cleared off the line, before Austin had a point-blank strike saved by Handanovic and Hojberg flashed wide.
Van Dijk said: “We were the only team that deserved to win and to concede a goal with their only chance is frustrating.
“We should have had the game dead and buried in the first half but that is what happens in football if you don’t take your chances.
“I’m a winner. I want to win and if you see things going wrong it is frustrating.
“I had a big chance with my left foot and a header. We had so many opportunities to win the game.”
Saints return to Premier League action with another daunting trip to Manchester City on Sunday and Puel added: “We have to move on.”
INTER MILAN: (4-3-3): Handanovic; Nagatomo (D’Ambrosio 90), Miranda, Muriillo, Santon; Gnoukouri, Medel, Brozovic; Candreva (Ansaldi 81), Icardi, Eder (Perisic 86). Booked: Brozovic, Medel. Sent-off: Brozovic. Goal: Candreva 67.
SOUTHAMPTON: (4-1-2-1-2): Forster; Martina, Yoshida, Van Dijk, McQueen; Romeu; Hojbjerg, Ward-Prowse; Tadic (Boufal 73); Long (Austin 48), Rodriguez (Davis 78). Booked: Hojbjerg.
But on the night it was Puel’s men who outplayed the Italian side, languishing in the bottom half of Serie A after a turbulent start to the season.
Academy product Sam McQueen was given a full debut to remember and almost forced an own-goal off goalkeeper Samir Handanovic before full-back Yuto Nagatomo mopped up on the line.
Moments later James Ward-Prowse whipped a strike narrowly over the bar as Saints refused to get overawed by the occasion.
Cuco Martina found plenty of crossing angles down the right and his best delivery skidded off Shane Long only for Rodriguez to fail to slide the ball home.
Top-scorer Austin was left on the bench by Puel but came on for the hobbling Long three minutes into the second half.
Austin’s journey from playing for non-league Poole Town just seven years ago to the San Siro was another notable story and the former bricklayer’s second touch had Handanovic sprawling but the ball drifted past a post.
But for all the hopes of a fairy tale finish, it was Inter who took the lead against the run of play as Candreva netted his maiden goal for the club with a neat left-foot finish after 67 minutes – the first Saints have conceded in the competition this season.
The hosts were forced to play the last 12 minutes a man light after Marcelo Brozovic was sent off for a pair of nasty tackles on Austin and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Dutchman Van Dijk was given the perfect opportunity to equalise and grab a deserving point but his one-on-one was struck straight at the keeper.
Centre-back Van Dijk went closer still when his towering header was cleared off the line, before Austin had a point-blank strike saved by Handanovic and Hojberg flashed wide.
Van Dijk said: “We were the only team that deserved to win and to concede a goal with their only chance is frustrating.
“We should have had the game dead and buried in the first half but that is what happens in football if you don’t take your chances.
“I’m a winner. I want to win and if you see things going wrong it is frustrating.
“I had a big chance with my left foot and a header. We had so many opportunities to win the game.”
Saints return to Premier League action with another daunting trip to Manchester City on Sunday and Puel added: “We have to move on.”
INTER MILAN: (4-3-3): Handanovic; Nagatomo (D’Ambrosio 90), Miranda, Muriillo, Santon; Gnoukouri, Medel, Brozovic; Candreva (Ansaldi 81), Icardi, Eder (Perisic 86). Booked: Brozovic, Medel. Sent-off: Brozovic. Goal: Candreva 67.
SOUTHAMPTON: (4-1-2-1-2): Forster; Martina, Yoshida, Van Dijk, McQueen; Romeu; Hojbjerg, Ward-Prowse; Tadic (Boufal 73); Long (Austin 48), Rodriguez (Davis 78). Booked: Hojbjerg.
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