Post by Taxigirl on Dec 22, 2003 10:09:44 GMT
Vieri 29 (I), Corradi 42 (L), Zauri 82 (L)
Stadio Olimpico
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Substitute Luciano Zauri sealed a fiery affair in Lazio's favour as Alberto Zaccheroni loses his first Inter match in Serie A.
Inter had the opportunity to leap into second place with a victory at the Olimpico, but they have not won here since 1996. Andy van der Meyde was out injured, but Daniele Adani played on with a face mask despite fracturing his nose last week.
The lead-up to this game was explosive, as Roberto Mancini admitted he regrets his decision to stay with Lazio last summer. Considering the main offer on the table at the time was from the San Siro, that was a particularly ill-timed revelation.
Even more headline-grabbing was Dejan Stankovic's admission that he has chosen to join Inter rather than Juventus when his contract expires in June. The Serb was set to be ruled out of this game with suspension, but his four-match ban was reduced on appeal.
These statements pushed the Biancocelesti fans into staging a strike for the first 15 minutes of the game, leaving the Curva Nord bare except for their banners.
It was also a special occasion for Alberto Zaccheroni, who returned to face his former club for the first time and hoped to notch up a seventh Serie A win on the trot.
It was an immediately aggressive start from both sides and ex-Lazio man Christian Vieri nodded a good Giovanni Pasquale cross wide.
The home side also had an early effort with Demetrio Albertini and Fabio Liverani long-range efforts testing Francesco Toldo.
There was panic in the Lazio area when a Pasquale centre was almost turned into his own net by Fernando Couto, but Matteo Sereni was secure behind it.
At the other end of the field there were strong appeals for a Lazio penalty when Bernardo Corradi fell and appeared to have his shirt tugged by Fabio Cannavaro, but the referee waved play on.
Corradi stayed on his feet soon after and sent a splendid volley on the half-turn inches wide of Toldo's net.
It was a very open game and Inter nearly took the lead when Alvaro Recoba drew Sereni off his line before cutting back into the centre, but the Lazio defence was able to clear.
However, Sereni performed a howler on 29 minutes and this time Christian Vieri was not so charitable. The goalkeeper only palmed a low Recoba cross into the path of the Italian international on the edge of his six-yard box.
Toldo was far more secure for the Nerazzurri and three minutes later he tipped Fiore's volley over the bar.
The home side seemed to be losing heart, but just before the break Corradi managed to flick an intelligent Stankovic cross past Toldo with the outside of his right foot. The space was created when the Serb sprung the offside trap and placed a perfect ball into the centre for the ex-Inter striker.
Both teams put on attacking wingers for the second half as Kily Gonzalez and Massimo Oddo joined the fray.
Lazio had the first chance after 60 seconds with another Albertini screamer that went just wide.
Soon after Toldo fingertipped a Liverani free kick over the bar, but the linesman did not spot the touch and gave a goal kick.
Inter had penalty appeals rejected when Julio Cruz fell under a challenge from Jaap Stam. There was certainly contact, but the referee was close by and considered it to be a stumble.
Sereni remained nervous and fumbled a corner kick, but Stankovic shielded him until he could recover the ball.
Vieri was eager to complete his brace and a fierce effort from distance dipped dangerously close to the crossbar.
Luciano Zauri marked his 100th Serie A game as a substitute, pushing Oddo further upfield as a winger.
The atmosphere heated up on 68 minutes and former Lazio midfielder Matias Almeyda was booked for a challenge on Corradi. The Argentine became agitated and continued the scuffle, even taking the red card away from referee Trefoloni and attacking Corradi again. It took several teammates to wrestle him away from the scene, but it left Inter in ten men for the final 20 minutes.
Lazio were buoyed and Toldo did well to control a Fiore effort in the pouring rain. The Nerazzurri hoped that this would leave them open to the counter-attack and threw on Obafemi Martins.
The home side thought they had won the game soon after when Corradi was left completely unmarked from less than six yards, but incredibly ballooned over the bar of an open goal.
Lazio tried their last card with teenager Alfonso Delgado, a half-Italian, half-Spanish youth product who has already made several substitute appearances this season.
It proved an inspired choice, as within a minute Delgado cut back for Luciano Zauri's angled drive at the back post. The former Atalanta winger was able to mark his 100th Serie A appearance with a rare goal.
There was further controversy soon after, as Zauri was pushed by Kily Gonzalez on the very edge of the box, even though he fell inside the area. Liverani took the resulting free kick and rattled the crossbar with his curling effort.
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Lazio: Sereni; Stam, Negro, Couto (Zauri 66), Favalli; Liverani, Albertini (Delgado 80), Stankovic; Muzzi (Oddo 46), Corradi, Fiore
Inter: Toldo; Cordoba, Cannavaro, Adani; J Zanetti, Emre, Almeyda, Pasquale (Okan 73); Recoba (Kily Gonzalez 46), Vieri, Cruz (Martins 66)
Ref: Trefoloni
Sent off: Almeyda 69 (I)
Stadio Olimpico
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Substitute Luciano Zauri sealed a fiery affair in Lazio's favour as Alberto Zaccheroni loses his first Inter match in Serie A.
Inter had the opportunity to leap into second place with a victory at the Olimpico, but they have not won here since 1996. Andy van der Meyde was out injured, but Daniele Adani played on with a face mask despite fracturing his nose last week.
The lead-up to this game was explosive, as Roberto Mancini admitted he regrets his decision to stay with Lazio last summer. Considering the main offer on the table at the time was from the San Siro, that was a particularly ill-timed revelation.
Even more headline-grabbing was Dejan Stankovic's admission that he has chosen to join Inter rather than Juventus when his contract expires in June. The Serb was set to be ruled out of this game with suspension, but his four-match ban was reduced on appeal.
These statements pushed the Biancocelesti fans into staging a strike for the first 15 minutes of the game, leaving the Curva Nord bare except for their banners.
It was also a special occasion for Alberto Zaccheroni, who returned to face his former club for the first time and hoped to notch up a seventh Serie A win on the trot.
It was an immediately aggressive start from both sides and ex-Lazio man Christian Vieri nodded a good Giovanni Pasquale cross wide.
The home side also had an early effort with Demetrio Albertini and Fabio Liverani long-range efforts testing Francesco Toldo.
There was panic in the Lazio area when a Pasquale centre was almost turned into his own net by Fernando Couto, but Matteo Sereni was secure behind it.
At the other end of the field there were strong appeals for a Lazio penalty when Bernardo Corradi fell and appeared to have his shirt tugged by Fabio Cannavaro, but the referee waved play on.
Corradi stayed on his feet soon after and sent a splendid volley on the half-turn inches wide of Toldo's net.
It was a very open game and Inter nearly took the lead when Alvaro Recoba drew Sereni off his line before cutting back into the centre, but the Lazio defence was able to clear.
However, Sereni performed a howler on 29 minutes and this time Christian Vieri was not so charitable. The goalkeeper only palmed a low Recoba cross into the path of the Italian international on the edge of his six-yard box.
Toldo was far more secure for the Nerazzurri and three minutes later he tipped Fiore's volley over the bar.
The home side seemed to be losing heart, but just before the break Corradi managed to flick an intelligent Stankovic cross past Toldo with the outside of his right foot. The space was created when the Serb sprung the offside trap and placed a perfect ball into the centre for the ex-Inter striker.
Both teams put on attacking wingers for the second half as Kily Gonzalez and Massimo Oddo joined the fray.
Lazio had the first chance after 60 seconds with another Albertini screamer that went just wide.
Soon after Toldo fingertipped a Liverani free kick over the bar, but the linesman did not spot the touch and gave a goal kick.
Inter had penalty appeals rejected when Julio Cruz fell under a challenge from Jaap Stam. There was certainly contact, but the referee was close by and considered it to be a stumble.
Sereni remained nervous and fumbled a corner kick, but Stankovic shielded him until he could recover the ball.
Vieri was eager to complete his brace and a fierce effort from distance dipped dangerously close to the crossbar.
Luciano Zauri marked his 100th Serie A game as a substitute, pushing Oddo further upfield as a winger.
The atmosphere heated up on 68 minutes and former Lazio midfielder Matias Almeyda was booked for a challenge on Corradi. The Argentine became agitated and continued the scuffle, even taking the red card away from referee Trefoloni and attacking Corradi again. It took several teammates to wrestle him away from the scene, but it left Inter in ten men for the final 20 minutes.
Lazio were buoyed and Toldo did well to control a Fiore effort in the pouring rain. The Nerazzurri hoped that this would leave them open to the counter-attack and threw on Obafemi Martins.
The home side thought they had won the game soon after when Corradi was left completely unmarked from less than six yards, but incredibly ballooned over the bar of an open goal.
Lazio tried their last card with teenager Alfonso Delgado, a half-Italian, half-Spanish youth product who has already made several substitute appearances this season.
It proved an inspired choice, as within a minute Delgado cut back for Luciano Zauri's angled drive at the back post. The former Atalanta winger was able to mark his 100th Serie A appearance with a rare goal.
There was further controversy soon after, as Zauri was pushed by Kily Gonzalez on the very edge of the box, even though he fell inside the area. Liverani took the resulting free kick and rattled the crossbar with his curling effort.
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Lazio: Sereni; Stam, Negro, Couto (Zauri 66), Favalli; Liverani, Albertini (Delgado 80), Stankovic; Muzzi (Oddo 46), Corradi, Fiore
Inter: Toldo; Cordoba, Cannavaro, Adani; J Zanetti, Emre, Almeyda, Pasquale (Okan 73); Recoba (Kily Gonzalez 46), Vieri, Cruz (Martins 66)
Ref: Trefoloni
Sent off: Almeyda 69 (I)