Post by Taxigirl on Jan 26, 2004 9:54:33 GMT
Recoba 10 (I), Makinwa 41 (M)
Stadio Braglia
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Inter's crisis continues with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against plucky minnows Modena.
The last seven days have been nothing short of an earthquake for Inter. Following the shock 1-0 home defeat to Empoli, President Massimo Moratti handed in his resignation. The oil baron still put up the £16m for new signing Adriano just 48 hours later and the Brazilian started this match from the bench.
Christian Vieri is also out for a fortnight with a thigh strain, so Andy van der Meyde, Alvaro Recoba and Obafemi Martins retained their spots in the starting eleven.
Modena have not won since Nov 9, but had their confidence boosted by a 1-1 draw to Lazio here last week.
The first chance fell to a pacey young Nigerian striker, but it was Modena's Stephane Makinwa who forced Francesco Toldo into a tricky rush off his line.
The Nerazzurri broke the deadlock with their first real attempt on ten minutes. Francisco Farinos floated a fine pass over the defence and Recoba's first touch allowed him to cut back past his marker and slide a low drive in by the near post.
Martins then drilled a low drive just past the near post, but Modena were given a lifeline when Fabio Cannavaro was punished for a handling offence on Fabio Vignaroli's shot. Omar Milanetto stepped up for the penalty, but Toldo did well to save the relatively central spot-kick with his feet.
Modena lost Matteo Pivotto to an injury and continued to trouble Toldo with a curling Maurizio Domizzi free kick.
The equaliser finally came on 41 minutes and it was Martins' fellow countryman Makinwa who made the difference. He sprung the offside trap for a delicate lob over Toldo and went on to emulate the now famous backflip celebration.
There were more injury worries for Inter, as Thomas Helveg limped off to be replaced by Giovanni Pasquale.
Adriano made his 'debut' with the Nerazzurri jersey in place of Martins, although the Brazilian did begin his Serie A career with this club.
He made an immediate impact by using his pace and power to charge past two defenders, but Inter seemed more sluggish and Modena took the initiative with chances for Makinwa and Vignaroli.
On 62 minutes Adriano tested Marco Ballotta with one of his trademark free kicks, the goalkeeper fingertipping the powerful effort wide from over 20 metres.
The former Parma man then sprung the offside trap on a Karagounis assist and blasted just wide of the near post.
Modena gave new signing Massimo Marazzina his debut in the closing stages, but neither side could extend their tally.
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Modena: Ballotta; Pivotto (Pavan 32), Cevoli, Grandoni; Campedelli, Marasco, Milanetto, Domizzi (Music 78), Balestri; Makinwa (Marazzina 81), Vignaroli
Inter: Toldo; Cordoba, Adani, Cannavaro; Helveg (Pasquale 43), Farinos, Lamouchi, J Zanetti; Recoba, Martins (Adriano 46), van der Meyde (Karagounis 70)
Ref: Collina
Missed penalty: Milanetto 25 (M)