Post by Taxigirl on Oct 22, 2003 10:06:59 GMT
Hector Cuper may have gone, but Inter's problems remain with a humiliating 3-0 defeat at Lokomotiv Moscow.
Inter played their first game since the shock sacking of Hector Cuper and youth team Coach Corrado Verdelli was on the bench in Moscow. "It is a dream come true," said the tactician, "even if it only lasts for three days."
It is reported that Verdelli consulted with new boss Alberto Zaccheroni before picking the attacking line-up with Alvaro Recoba, Christian Vieri and Julio Cruz providing the trident attack.
However, it took just 100 seconds for Lokomotiv to take the lead against a distracted Nerazzurri defence. Vadim Evseev charged past Jeremie Brechet to reach the byline and Dmitri Loskov was left completely unmarked on the six-yard line to slam in off the crossbar.
This was the first goal scored by the club in six rounds of Champions' League football, including last season.
Inter were clearly shocked and after a couple of Recoba long range efforts, Francesco Toldo punched away a Loskov drive.
Recoba was disappointing in his seasonal debut against Brescia this weekend, but was very eager to make his mark and saw another curling effort palmed away with some difficulty.
The all-new Inter played well from the midfield upwards, but the defence seemed to be unprotected against the pacey Russians.
Cristiano Zanetti curled over from a good position, then on 24 minutes Ovchinnikov performed a great one-handed save on Vieri's angled drive.
The best opportunity fell to their captain moments later, but despite taking advantage of a Khokhlov defensive error Javier Zanetti blasted over the bar from just inside the box.
Inter poured forward in search of an equaliser, leaving room at the back for Lokomotiv to counter-attack in, and Ismailov and Khokhlov saw efforts whistle inches wide of Toldo's goal.
There was panic in the Inter box in the final minute of the first half, as Ashvetia skipped past two players and lifted the ball over Toldo, only for Khokhlov to fire over an open goal.
Inter started the second half the same way they had ended the first, pushing forward but wasting their chances with Julio Cruz.
And again within four minutes of the restart Lokomotiv Moscow had doubled their lead. The defence was left woefully exposed once more for an almost identical goal to the first. Ashvetia was left utterly unmarked from six yards to tap in another Evseev low cross from the right.
Recoba was one of the most lively Nerazzurri players and his fierce drive from distance was palmed over with a good save.
But Moscow managed to seal up the points with a third goal on 57 minutes. A long free kick found Khokhlov's splendid looping header, although his marker Cordoba did not jump.
Coach Verdelli finally made changes and introduced Emre Belozoglu, Obafemi Martins and Francesco Coco, but psychologically the team was already crippled.
In fact, Lokomotiv could have scored more, but Lekcheto blasted over the bar from a good position, then Toldo almost fumbled a Loskov free kick.
Even a consolation goal was beyond Inter as on 83 minutes Vieri met a Recoba cross, but his bullet header rattled the crossbar.
Lokomotiv Moscow: Ovchinnikov; Evseev (Gurenko 75), Lekcheto, Ignashevich, Sennikov; Khokhlov, Maminov, Buznikin (Pachinine 46), Loskov; Izmailov, Ashvetia
Inter: Toldo; Cordoba, Cannavaro, Materazzi (Emre 61), Brechet (Coco 70); J Zanetti, C Zanetti, Almeyda; Recoba, Cruz (Martins 61), Vieri
Ref: Wack (Ger)
Inter played their first game since the shock sacking of Hector Cuper and youth team Coach Corrado Verdelli was on the bench in Moscow. "It is a dream come true," said the tactician, "even if it only lasts for three days."
It is reported that Verdelli consulted with new boss Alberto Zaccheroni before picking the attacking line-up with Alvaro Recoba, Christian Vieri and Julio Cruz providing the trident attack.
However, it took just 100 seconds for Lokomotiv to take the lead against a distracted Nerazzurri defence. Vadim Evseev charged past Jeremie Brechet to reach the byline and Dmitri Loskov was left completely unmarked on the six-yard line to slam in off the crossbar.
This was the first goal scored by the club in six rounds of Champions' League football, including last season.
Inter were clearly shocked and after a couple of Recoba long range efforts, Francesco Toldo punched away a Loskov drive.
Recoba was disappointing in his seasonal debut against Brescia this weekend, but was very eager to make his mark and saw another curling effort palmed away with some difficulty.
The all-new Inter played well from the midfield upwards, but the defence seemed to be unprotected against the pacey Russians.
Cristiano Zanetti curled over from a good position, then on 24 minutes Ovchinnikov performed a great one-handed save on Vieri's angled drive.
The best opportunity fell to their captain moments later, but despite taking advantage of a Khokhlov defensive error Javier Zanetti blasted over the bar from just inside the box.
Inter poured forward in search of an equaliser, leaving room at the back for Lokomotiv to counter-attack in, and Ismailov and Khokhlov saw efforts whistle inches wide of Toldo's goal.
There was panic in the Inter box in the final minute of the first half, as Ashvetia skipped past two players and lifted the ball over Toldo, only for Khokhlov to fire over an open goal.
Inter started the second half the same way they had ended the first, pushing forward but wasting their chances with Julio Cruz.
And again within four minutes of the restart Lokomotiv Moscow had doubled their lead. The defence was left woefully exposed once more for an almost identical goal to the first. Ashvetia was left utterly unmarked from six yards to tap in another Evseev low cross from the right.
Recoba was one of the most lively Nerazzurri players and his fierce drive from distance was palmed over with a good save.
But Moscow managed to seal up the points with a third goal on 57 minutes. A long free kick found Khokhlov's splendid looping header, although his marker Cordoba did not jump.
Coach Verdelli finally made changes and introduced Emre Belozoglu, Obafemi Martins and Francesco Coco, but psychologically the team was already crippled.
In fact, Lokomotiv could have scored more, but Lekcheto blasted over the bar from a good position, then Toldo almost fumbled a Loskov free kick.
Even a consolation goal was beyond Inter as on 83 minutes Vieri met a Recoba cross, but his bullet header rattled the crossbar.
Lokomotiv Moscow: Ovchinnikov; Evseev (Gurenko 75), Lekcheto, Ignashevich, Sennikov; Khokhlov, Maminov, Buznikin (Pachinine 46), Loskov; Izmailov, Ashvetia
Inter: Toldo; Cordoba, Cannavaro, Materazzi (Emre 61), Brechet (Coco 70); J Zanetti, C Zanetti, Almeyda; Recoba, Cruz (Martins 61), Vieri
Ref: Wack (Ger)