Post by Taxigirl on Oct 27, 2003 10:10:05 GMT
Hector Cuper may have gone, but the Nerazzurri are still lacking inspiration and drop nine points adrift of the leaders.
Zaccheroni could not have asked for a tougher debut as he made his first appearance on the Inter bench. The lifelong Nerazzurri supporter took charge after Hector Cuper was sacked, but Assistant Manager Corrado Verdelli was in control for the midweek 3-0 defeat at Lokomotiv Moscow.
The tactics were bound to change and Zac adopted the team to his 3-4-3 system, insisting that Christian Vieri and Alvaro Recoba needed the freedom to roam.
There were injury worries with Luciano and Andy van der Meyde out of action, but Zaccheroni's former Milan colleague Francesco Coco returned to the starting eleven for the first time this season. Mohamed Kallon was suspended after failing a drug test.
Roma have not won here since 1994 and although Vincenzo Montella and John Carew recovered from muscular worries they were left on the bench in favour of a more agile partnership of Antonio Cassano and Francesco Totti. Cristian Chivu also started despite a sprained ankle, while talented 20-year-old Daniele De Rossi retained his spot.
Marco Materazzi had timid penalty appeals for a clash with Walter Samuel after eight minutes following a strong Inter start.
Several Recoba free kicks caused problems in the Roma box, while Cassano was lively at the other end of the field and placed a lob just inches over the bar.
Inter held the initiative, but the first real shot on goal was Roma's on 29 minutes. Totti sparked a counter-attack and his fierce drive brought a tough save out of Francesco Toldo.
Jonathan Zebina did well to prevent Vieri taking full advantage of an intelligent Recoba through ball.
The Giallorossi gained in confidence towards the end of the first half and a Cassano effort was deflected wide.
Roma seemed more convinced as they came out for the second period and a Daniele De Rossi free header was gathered by Toldo.
Ivan Pelizzoli was called to his first save with a long-range Recoba free kick that took a curious bounce just in front of the goalkeeper.
The visitors really should have broken the deadlock on 51 minutes when Totti's splendid pass reached Mancini at the far post, but the Brazilian winger failed to make the most of it by volleying wide.
Roma increased the pressure and Francisco Lima drilled off target after another fine Totti cutback.
Soon after Totti's shot was charged down and De Rossi turned the loose ball just inches wide of the far post.
A change had to be made and Julio Cruz was introduced in place of the disappointing Recoba.
Vieri had a good chance on 71 minutes, but Jonathan Zebina managed to close him down before the Italian international could unleash a shot.
Roma also made a change and introduced Vincenzo Montella, who has been out for a couple of weeks with an injury.
The fans did finally get to see a goal on 76 minutes when substitute Julio Cruz slammed in an angled drive, but it was correctly disallowed for a handling offence.
That seemed to spark Inter into action and Pelizzoli performed a very difficult save to parry away Mathias Almeyda's shot and the Roma defence scrambled the loose ball clear.
There was controversy on 82 minutes when Mancini appeared to strike out and hit Almeyda on the face, but the referee considered it to be involuntary and waved play on.
The crowd and Vieri were up in arms during stoppage time when the striker fell under pressure from a defender, but Pierluigi Collina refused to award a penalty.
It was a disastrous night for Vieri as moments later he saw one effort parried and incredibly slammed the underside of the crossbar on the follow-up.
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Inter: Toldo; Cordoba, Materazzi, Cannavaro; J Zanetti, Almeyda, C Zanetti, Coco (Helveg 74); Recoba (Cruz 66), Vieri, Kily Gonzalez (Karagounis 76)
Roma: Pelizzoli; Zebina, Samuel, Chivu; Mancini, De Rossi, Emerson, Dacourt, Lima; Totti, Cassano (Montella 73)
Ref: Collina
Zaccheroni could not have asked for a tougher debut as he made his first appearance on the Inter bench. The lifelong Nerazzurri supporter took charge after Hector Cuper was sacked, but Assistant Manager Corrado Verdelli was in control for the midweek 3-0 defeat at Lokomotiv Moscow.
The tactics were bound to change and Zac adopted the team to his 3-4-3 system, insisting that Christian Vieri and Alvaro Recoba needed the freedom to roam.
There were injury worries with Luciano and Andy van der Meyde out of action, but Zaccheroni's former Milan colleague Francesco Coco returned to the starting eleven for the first time this season. Mohamed Kallon was suspended after failing a drug test.
Roma have not won here since 1994 and although Vincenzo Montella and John Carew recovered from muscular worries they were left on the bench in favour of a more agile partnership of Antonio Cassano and Francesco Totti. Cristian Chivu also started despite a sprained ankle, while talented 20-year-old Daniele De Rossi retained his spot.
Marco Materazzi had timid penalty appeals for a clash with Walter Samuel after eight minutes following a strong Inter start.
Several Recoba free kicks caused problems in the Roma box, while Cassano was lively at the other end of the field and placed a lob just inches over the bar.
Inter held the initiative, but the first real shot on goal was Roma's on 29 minutes. Totti sparked a counter-attack and his fierce drive brought a tough save out of Francesco Toldo.
Jonathan Zebina did well to prevent Vieri taking full advantage of an intelligent Recoba through ball.
The Giallorossi gained in confidence towards the end of the first half and a Cassano effort was deflected wide.
Roma seemed more convinced as they came out for the second period and a Daniele De Rossi free header was gathered by Toldo.
Ivan Pelizzoli was called to his first save with a long-range Recoba free kick that took a curious bounce just in front of the goalkeeper.
The visitors really should have broken the deadlock on 51 minutes when Totti's splendid pass reached Mancini at the far post, but the Brazilian winger failed to make the most of it by volleying wide.
Roma increased the pressure and Francisco Lima drilled off target after another fine Totti cutback.
Soon after Totti's shot was charged down and De Rossi turned the loose ball just inches wide of the far post.
A change had to be made and Julio Cruz was introduced in place of the disappointing Recoba.
Vieri had a good chance on 71 minutes, but Jonathan Zebina managed to close him down before the Italian international could unleash a shot.
Roma also made a change and introduced Vincenzo Montella, who has been out for a couple of weeks with an injury.
The fans did finally get to see a goal on 76 minutes when substitute Julio Cruz slammed in an angled drive, but it was correctly disallowed for a handling offence.
That seemed to spark Inter into action and Pelizzoli performed a very difficult save to parry away Mathias Almeyda's shot and the Roma defence scrambled the loose ball clear.
There was controversy on 82 minutes when Mancini appeared to strike out and hit Almeyda on the face, but the referee considered it to be involuntary and waved play on.
The crowd and Vieri were up in arms during stoppage time when the striker fell under pressure from a defender, but Pierluigi Collina refused to award a penalty.
It was a disastrous night for Vieri as moments later he saw one effort parried and incredibly slammed the underside of the crossbar on the follow-up.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inter: Toldo; Cordoba, Materazzi, Cannavaro; J Zanetti, Almeyda, C Zanetti, Coco (Helveg 74); Recoba (Cruz 66), Vieri, Kily Gonzalez (Karagounis 76)
Roma: Pelizzoli; Zebina, Samuel, Chivu; Mancini, De Rossi, Emerson, Dacourt, Lima; Totti, Cassano (Montella 73)
Ref: Collina