Post by Taxigirl on Jan 16, 2006 9:33:00 GMT
www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0506/int-cag.html
Serie A Week 19 - 15/1/05 (14.00 UK)
Martins 10 (I), Adriano 15, pen 58 (I), Esposito 20 (C), Suazo 81 (C)
STADIO SAN SIRO
Adriano's brace gave Inter their first win of 2006, but they found it tough going against little Cagliari.
The Nerazzurri dropped down into third place last week following their 0-0 draw at Siena and needed a victory to stay in the Scudetto race. Without the injured Alvaro Recoba, Ze Maria and suspended Juan Sebastian Veron, they recalled Obafemi Martins from African Cup of Nations duty. Cagliari have been improving of late and earned a 2-1 win over Udinese, but lost Antonio Langella to an ankle problem.
The Inter curva was left empty for the start of the game in a controversial protest against the stadium ban on four supporters who were caught hurling racist abuse at Messina defender Marc Zoro in November. The Nerazzurri hardliners claimed there was "insufficient evidence" to inflict a five-year ban from attending games.
Agostini required a perfectly timed tackle to close down Dejan Stankovic after he burst through the centre on a Martins assist, but Ivan Cordoba also put in a desperate challenge to block David Suazo.
It proved crucial, as Inter sprinted up the other end of the field and immediately broke the deadlock. Martins showed the sheer power of his pace by leaving Bizera behind and stroking a precise finish into the far corner of the net. It was the club's first goal of 2006 in all competition.
The Nerazzurri doubled their lead soon after with Adriano, although most of the credit must go to Javier Zanetti. The captain rushed 40 metres up the flank and skipped past three challenges before rolling across for Adriano's tap-in.
However, Cagliari got back into the game on 20 minutes. Suazo dispossessed Javier Zanetti on the edge of the box and cut back for Mauro Esposito - who has been linked with a move to Inter - to toe-poke past Julio Cesar.
Antonio Chimenti joined on loan from Juventus this month and proved his worth with a brilliant save on Martins. The Nigerian sprung the offside trap on Luis Figo's through ball, but the goalkeeper stuck with him and spread himself to close down the shot.
A scuffle broke out between Nelson Abeijon and Stankovic after the Serb seemed to strike the Cagliari midfielder in the face, but the referee only saw the second offence and the Inter man escaped without a booking.
After the break, Adriano's free header on a Figo cross was well wide of the target.
The referee pointed to the spot soon after for a controversial penalty, as Capone made slight contact with Adriano, but Cagliari's complaints were waved away and the Brazilian converted.
Suazo could've made it 3-2, but the Honduras international somehow managed to balloon over the bar from six yards undisturbed when a corner kick was not dealt with effectively.
A long-range Stankovic effort was just wide and Walter Samuel just failed to take advantage of Chimenti's error on a corner kick.
Cagliari showed resilience and refused to give in, getting back into the running nine minutes from time with a deflected Suazo free kick that took a touch off Samuel in the defensive wall.
The final stages were very tense indeed for Inter, as the Sardinians were pouring forward in a desperate bid to replicate the 3-3 draw these teams played out last season.
The nerves got to Martins, who sparked a scuffle with Bega in a reaction foul, but Cagliari had penalty appeals rejected in stoppages for Samuel's push on Suazo.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inter: Julio Cesar; J Zanetti, Cordoba, Samuel, Favalli; Figo (Pizarro 79), C Zanetti, Cambiasso, Stankovic; Adriano (Cruz 65), Martins
Cagliari: Chimenti; Bega, Canini, Bizera, Agostini; Abeijon (Cocco 78), Conti (Budel 52); Gobbi, Capone (Cossu 52), Esposito; Suazo
Ref: Dattilo
Serie A Week 19 - 15/1/05 (14.00 UK)
Martins 10 (I), Adriano 15, pen 58 (I), Esposito 20 (C), Suazo 81 (C)
STADIO SAN SIRO
Adriano's brace gave Inter their first win of 2006, but they found it tough going against little Cagliari.
The Nerazzurri dropped down into third place last week following their 0-0 draw at Siena and needed a victory to stay in the Scudetto race. Without the injured Alvaro Recoba, Ze Maria and suspended Juan Sebastian Veron, they recalled Obafemi Martins from African Cup of Nations duty. Cagliari have been improving of late and earned a 2-1 win over Udinese, but lost Antonio Langella to an ankle problem.
The Inter curva was left empty for the start of the game in a controversial protest against the stadium ban on four supporters who were caught hurling racist abuse at Messina defender Marc Zoro in November. The Nerazzurri hardliners claimed there was "insufficient evidence" to inflict a five-year ban from attending games.
Agostini required a perfectly timed tackle to close down Dejan Stankovic after he burst through the centre on a Martins assist, but Ivan Cordoba also put in a desperate challenge to block David Suazo.
It proved crucial, as Inter sprinted up the other end of the field and immediately broke the deadlock. Martins showed the sheer power of his pace by leaving Bizera behind and stroking a precise finish into the far corner of the net. It was the club's first goal of 2006 in all competition.
The Nerazzurri doubled their lead soon after with Adriano, although most of the credit must go to Javier Zanetti. The captain rushed 40 metres up the flank and skipped past three challenges before rolling across for Adriano's tap-in.
However, Cagliari got back into the game on 20 minutes. Suazo dispossessed Javier Zanetti on the edge of the box and cut back for Mauro Esposito - who has been linked with a move to Inter - to toe-poke past Julio Cesar.
Antonio Chimenti joined on loan from Juventus this month and proved his worth with a brilliant save on Martins. The Nigerian sprung the offside trap on Luis Figo's through ball, but the goalkeeper stuck with him and spread himself to close down the shot.
A scuffle broke out between Nelson Abeijon and Stankovic after the Serb seemed to strike the Cagliari midfielder in the face, but the referee only saw the second offence and the Inter man escaped without a booking.
After the break, Adriano's free header on a Figo cross was well wide of the target.
The referee pointed to the spot soon after for a controversial penalty, as Capone made slight contact with Adriano, but Cagliari's complaints were waved away and the Brazilian converted.
Suazo could've made it 3-2, but the Honduras international somehow managed to balloon over the bar from six yards undisturbed when a corner kick was not dealt with effectively.
A long-range Stankovic effort was just wide and Walter Samuel just failed to take advantage of Chimenti's error on a corner kick.
Cagliari showed resilience and refused to give in, getting back into the running nine minutes from time with a deflected Suazo free kick that took a touch off Samuel in the defensive wall.
The final stages were very tense indeed for Inter, as the Sardinians were pouring forward in a desperate bid to replicate the 3-3 draw these teams played out last season.
The nerves got to Martins, who sparked a scuffle with Bega in a reaction foul, but Cagliari had penalty appeals rejected in stoppages for Samuel's push on Suazo.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inter: Julio Cesar; J Zanetti, Cordoba, Samuel, Favalli; Figo (Pizarro 79), C Zanetti, Cambiasso, Stankovic; Adriano (Cruz 65), Martins
Cagliari: Chimenti; Bega, Canini, Bizera, Agostini; Abeijon (Cocco 78), Conti (Budel 52); Gobbi, Capone (Cossu 52), Esposito; Suazo
Ref: Dattilo