Post by Taxigirl on Dec 22, 2005 9:48:42 GMT
www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0506/int-emp.html
Serie A Week 17 - 21/12/05 (19.30 UK)
Adriano 3 (I), Cruz 45 (I), Vannucchi 64 (E), Figo 67 (I), Martins 85 (I)
STADIO SAN SIRO
Inter registered their sixth consecutive Serie A victory and scored four goals for the second week running, but there were frightening moments for Adriano when he lost consciousness.
The Nerazzurri have truly hit their stride with five straight wins going into the final game of 2005. Following Juve's stumble at Lazio, Inter had cut the gap to eight points and had high hopes of continuing their Scudetto challenge against struggling Empoli. Although they held Fiorentina to a 1-1 draw last week, it was the only point the Tuscans had earned in the last five weeks. Ivan Cordoba's ban in defence and an injury to Dejan Stankovic forced Roberto Mancini to reshuffle his squad.
It took just three minutes to break the deadlock, as Gianluca Berti spilled an Esteban Cambiasso strike from the edge of the box and Adriano walked in the loose ball.
A fierce Obafemi Martins effort was just past the post, as did a Luis Figo attempt from a similar distance.
There was tension after 13 minutes when Adriano seemed to lose consciousness after a clash of heads with Raggi. The Brazilian was stretchered off after treatment and had regained consciousness, but clearly could not continue the match and was replaced by Julio Cruz.
Inter kept on pushing and Berti was at full stretch to palm a Martins header off the line. Empoli finally had a scoring opportunity of their own, as Julio Cesar palmed a rocket of an Almiron free kick over the bar.
Empoli also lost a player to injury, as Lucchini made way for Igli Vannucchi. The visitors had penalty appeals on the stroke of half-time for Walter Samuel's shoulder-charge on Almiron.
Deep into first half stoppages, substitute Cruz gave Inter a two-goal cushion with a powerful strike from the edge of the box.
Christian Rigano' also felt he was pushed by Nicolas Burdisso at the dawn of the second half, but again Empoli's appeals were waved away.
Inter could've made it 3-0, but Cambiasso's effort was stopped short by the upright on a Cruz assist.
A Luis Figo volley was not far off the near post, but Empoli got back into the game with substitute Vannucchi. The creative midfielder's rising half-volley flew into the top corner past the outstretched hand of Julio Cesar.
However, it lasted not even two minutes before Figo restored the two-goal cushion with an angled drive after Martins had touched on Cambiasso's pass.
Cambiasso sprung the offside trap only to prod the ball over the bar, but it was Martins who made it 4-1 in the final stages. Cambiasso was again involved, as the Nigerian picked up his pass and unleashed a precise low drive from the edge of the box and celebrated with his trademark back-flips.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inter: Julio Cesar; J Zanetti, Burdisso, Samuel, Favalli; Figo, Veron (Wome 88), Cambiasso, Solari (C Zanetti 70); Martins, Adriano (Cruz 18)
Empoli: Berti; Lucchini (Vannucchi 33), Coda, Raggi, Bonetto (Lodi 59); Busce, Ficini, Almiron, Moro; Tavano, Rigano' (Gasparetto 84)
Ref: Girardi
Serie A Week 17 - 21/12/05 (19.30 UK)
Adriano 3 (I), Cruz 45 (I), Vannucchi 64 (E), Figo 67 (I), Martins 85 (I)
STADIO SAN SIRO
Inter registered their sixth consecutive Serie A victory and scored four goals for the second week running, but there were frightening moments for Adriano when he lost consciousness.
The Nerazzurri have truly hit their stride with five straight wins going into the final game of 2005. Following Juve's stumble at Lazio, Inter had cut the gap to eight points and had high hopes of continuing their Scudetto challenge against struggling Empoli. Although they held Fiorentina to a 1-1 draw last week, it was the only point the Tuscans had earned in the last five weeks. Ivan Cordoba's ban in defence and an injury to Dejan Stankovic forced Roberto Mancini to reshuffle his squad.
It took just three minutes to break the deadlock, as Gianluca Berti spilled an Esteban Cambiasso strike from the edge of the box and Adriano walked in the loose ball.
A fierce Obafemi Martins effort was just past the post, as did a Luis Figo attempt from a similar distance.
There was tension after 13 minutes when Adriano seemed to lose consciousness after a clash of heads with Raggi. The Brazilian was stretchered off after treatment and had regained consciousness, but clearly could not continue the match and was replaced by Julio Cruz.
Inter kept on pushing and Berti was at full stretch to palm a Martins header off the line. Empoli finally had a scoring opportunity of their own, as Julio Cesar palmed a rocket of an Almiron free kick over the bar.
Empoli also lost a player to injury, as Lucchini made way for Igli Vannucchi. The visitors had penalty appeals on the stroke of half-time for Walter Samuel's shoulder-charge on Almiron.
Deep into first half stoppages, substitute Cruz gave Inter a two-goal cushion with a powerful strike from the edge of the box.
Christian Rigano' also felt he was pushed by Nicolas Burdisso at the dawn of the second half, but again Empoli's appeals were waved away.
Inter could've made it 3-0, but Cambiasso's effort was stopped short by the upright on a Cruz assist.
A Luis Figo volley was not far off the near post, but Empoli got back into the game with substitute Vannucchi. The creative midfielder's rising half-volley flew into the top corner past the outstretched hand of Julio Cesar.
However, it lasted not even two minutes before Figo restored the two-goal cushion with an angled drive after Martins had touched on Cambiasso's pass.
Cambiasso sprung the offside trap only to prod the ball over the bar, but it was Martins who made it 4-1 in the final stages. Cambiasso was again involved, as the Nigerian picked up his pass and unleashed a precise low drive from the edge of the box and celebrated with his trademark back-flips.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inter: Julio Cesar; J Zanetti, Burdisso, Samuel, Favalli; Figo, Veron (Wome 88), Cambiasso, Solari (C Zanetti 70); Martins, Adriano (Cruz 18)
Empoli: Berti; Lucchini (Vannucchi 33), Coda, Raggi, Bonetto (Lodi 59); Busce, Ficini, Almiron, Moro; Tavano, Rigano' (Gasparetto 84)
Ref: Girardi