Post by Salem6 on Dec 19, 2005 7:58:09 GMT
Serie A Week 16 - 18/12/05 (14.00 UK)
Reggina 0 - 4 Inter
Cordoba 2 (I), Martins 15 (I), Adriano 40 (I), Pizarro 93 (I)
Stadio Granillo
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Inter made short work of Reggina at the Stadio Granillo and close the gap from leaders Juventus to eight points.
The Nerazzurri's Scudetto hopes were revived by last week's thrilling 3-2 derby victory that propelled them into second place, so confidence was running high for their trip to Reggio Calabria. Walter Mazzarri's men have made their home form key to their survival hopes and had won their last three games at the Granillo, though Ivan Franceschini was suspended.
It took just 100 seconds for Inter to break the deadlock. Juan Sebastian Veron's free kick went through a sea of legs and took Nicola Pavarini by surprise, allowing Ivan Cordoba to tap in the loose ball from close range.
Javier Zanetti crossed in for Adriano's header, palmed away with an instinct save from Pavarini, then the goalkeeper allowed a Veron drive to squirm away from him at the near post.
Inter were dominating and tested Pavarini again with a fierce Dejan Srankovic strike. They doubled their lead with an Obafemi Martins header on Luis Figo's cross from the right, but the Reggina defence had left the Nigerian totally unmarked.
Another Stankovic effort pushed Pavarini into a reaction save, then only a Tedesco goalline clearance prevented Veron scoring directly from the corner flag.
There was controversy when Adriano kicked out at Tedesco in reaction to a foul, but the referee took no action. Tedesco also had Reggina's only real scoring opportunity of the first half saved by Julio Cesar.
Inter made it 3-0 just before the break, as Figo rolled a counter-attack across for Adriano, who cut back past a defender and sliced his left-foot finish in at the near post.
Reggina attempted a tame fightback with Biondini setting up Alessandro Lucarelli's blazed shot over the bar.
Figo thought he'd made it 4-0 for Inter, but his solo effort was cut short by the crossbar.
David Pizarro completed the rout with the last kick of the game, springing the offside trap on Figo's through ball and waltzing round the goalkeeper.
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Reggina: Pavarini; Lauro, Lanzaro, De Rosa (Carobbio 56), Lucarelli; Mesto (Biondini 46), Paredes, Tedesco, Modesto; Vigiani (Amoruso 63); Cozza
Inter: Julio Cesar; J Zanetti, Cordoba, Samuel, Favalli (Pizarro 64); Figo, Cambiasso, Veron, Stankovic (Burdisso 46); Adriano, Martins (Recoba 79)
Ref: Bertini
www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0506/reg-int.html