Post by Taxigirl on Dec 18, 2003 10:31:26 GMT
An extraordinary piece of luck deep into stoppage time allowed Inter to finally see off ten-man Reggina.
The Amaranto had already given them a scare in the first leg by taking the lead at the San Siro, only for a Julio Cruz brace to turn it around for a 2-1 home win.
Giancarlo Camolese’s men searched for the goal that would level the tie on aggregate immediately and went close when Francesco Cozza’s free kick was deflected wide.
On nine minutes there were timid penalty appeals as Ivan Franceschini fell under pressure from Ivan Cordoba, but the referee waved play on.
Andy van der Meyde found himself in a couple of good positions only to finish weakly, while Cruz drilled inches wide.
The breakthrough came just before half-time. Inter goalkeeper Alberto Fontana parried Emiliano Bonazzoli’s drive and moments later Julio Cesar Leon was allowed room for a diving header on Gianluca Falsini’s centre.
With this result the tie was 2-2 on aggregate, but Reggina would qualify for the Quarter-Finals on the away goals rule.
The atmosphere heated up at the Stadio Granillo and following a series of crunching tackles all around the field, Giacchetta saw red for a last man foul on Cruz.
Inter nearly drew level from the resulting free kick, as Sabri Lamouchi’s set-piece split the defensive wall and cannoned off the upright.
Alberto Zaccheroni threw on Alvaro Recoba for the second half, but even against ten men they struggled to break through.
Instead, Reggina almost doubled their lead when Fontana and Jeremie Brechet became confused and allowed Bonazzoli to lob them from 30 metres, but they were lucky as his effort hit the frame of the open goal.
Van der Meyde saw a long-range attempt pushed out for a corner, but the home side continued to have the best chances and Bonazzoli nodded wide after Cordoba’s error.
However, deep into stoppage time Inter were handed a lifeline and Reggina’s celebrations were cut short.
A hopeful Julio Cruz long range effort came off the near post and ricocheted back into the empty net off goalkeeper Emanuele Belardi’s head.
The shot-stopper was in tears as there was less than a minute left on the clock, but Inter get their goal and qualify for the Quarter-Final where they will meet either Udinese or Bologna.
Reggina 1-1 Inter
Scorers: Leon 38 (R), Cruz 93 (I)
Inter qualify 3-2 on agg
Reggina: Belardi; Jiranek (Mesto 75), Giacchetta, Franceschini, Falsini; Martinez, Tedesco, Mozart, Cozza (Torrisi 45); Leon (Baiocco 66), Bonazzoli
Inter: Fontana; Cordoba, Gamarra, Brechet (Almeyda 79); Luciano, J Zanetti, Lamouchi (Emre 59), Kily Gonzalez; van der Meyde, Cruz, Karagounis (Recoba 46)
Ref: Tombolini
Sent off: Giacchetta 45 (R)