Post by Taxigirl on Dec 15, 2003 10:14:05 GMT
Martins 29 (I), Recoba 39 (I)
Stadio Del Conero
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Inter notch up a sixth Serie A win on the trot and put their European woes behind them.
Julio Cruz returned to face his former club and surprisingly Christian Vieri was left on the bench to begin with. Inter traditionally struggle against Bologna and needed a morale-booster after their midweek Champions' League exit.
It was Cruz who had the first real chance on eight minutes when he charged into the box, but Emiliano Moretti managed to make a last-ditch challenge.
Bologna went even closer soon after when Francesco Toldo flew to fingertip a Claudio Bellucci header over the bar.
Inter fought back and a Kily Gonzalez volley was redirected by Obafemi Martins to loop perilously close to the crossbar.
It was a very open and entertaining game as Cruz and Alvaro Recoba tried to slalom past the entire defence only to be halted at the last moment.
The deadlock was eventually broken on the half hour mark when Martins was left unmarked to tap in an intelligent Kily Gonzalez through ball. The Bologna defence was caught napping as they stood still while the young Nigerian latched on to the pass.
Martins nearly made it two when he sprinted past defenders and turned wide with the outside of his left foot.
Inter eventually doubled their lead just before the break, but Bologna were furious. Recoba sprung the offside trap on a Cruz sliderule pass and nutmegged Pagliuca as he rushed off his line. The defence was confused by a smart Martins dummy, but he did not touch the ball and therefore Recoba was onside.
It was Bologna who went very close to getting back into the game at the dawn of the second half, as Beppe Signori's dipping half-volley rattled the crossbar with Toldo beaten.
The Nerazzurri were given more space to counter-attack in and Pagliuca performed a fine save on Cruz.
Toldo was again called to fingertip out Cesare Natali's header, while Recoba's angled drive shaved the far post.
Bologna were extremely unlucky not to get one back when Natali's splendid volley clipped the upright.
Moments later there was tension at the other end of the field, as an incredible Pagliuca save prevented substitute Christian Vieri from scoring with a delicate chip. The former Inter goalkeeper may be nearing his 40's, but he exhibited cat-like reflexes to get back and paw that ball out.
There was bad news for Daniele Adani in the final minutes, as the defender clashed heads with Mourad Meghni and appeared to fracture his nose.
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Bologna: Pagliuca; Zaccardo, Gamberini, Natali, Moretti (Meghni 82); Nervo, Amoroso, Colucci, Bellucci (Pecchia 46); Signori, Rossini (Tare 46)
Inter: Toldo; Cordoba, Adani, Cannavaro; J Zanetti, Almeyda, Emre, Kily Gonzalez; Recoba (van der Meyde 74), Martins (Vieri 67), Cruz (Lamouchi 82)
Ref: Pieri
