Post by Salem6 on Nov 23, 2008 12:22:20 GMT
Serie A Week 13 - 22/11/08 (19.30 UK)
Inter 1 - 0 Juventus
Muntari 73 (I)
Stadio Meazza
Inter got the better of arch rivals Juventus thanks to a bizarre goal from Sulley Ali Muntari.
The Derby d'Italia was on fire with a packed San Siro for this eternal rivalry, Calciopoli revenge, Scudetto battle and grudge match between former Chelsea tacticians. Juve were coming off seven consecutive victories and made no changes, as Gigi Buffon, David Trezeguet, Cristiano Zanetti, Jonathan Zebina, Hasan Salihamidzic, Christian Poulsen and Dario Knezevic remained on the treatment table.
Inter missed the suspended Ivan Cordoba and injured Cristian Chivu and Nelson Rivas. In a shock move, Adriano was picked for the starting XI after he was frozen out for several games for turning up late to training. Marco Materazzi also returned for a rare start with Dejan Stankovic in midfield.
Over 80,000 people packed into San Siro and within 90 seconds there was a major injury, as Tiago Mendes sprained his left knee and was carried off to make way for Claudio Marchisio.
There was panic in the box when Stankovic sprung the offside trap to go clear, but he beat a Christian Molinaro tackle and was lining up the shot when Giorgio Chiellini came barrelling in for a decisive intervention.
Alex Manninger flew to pluck Stankovic's flicked header out of the air, while Del Piero had a solo effort charged down. Amauri and Del Piero duetted with the captain's marvellous dummy, but the final pass to Nedved was misplaced.
Julio Cesar had to be alert to punch a Del Piero chipped cross off Amauri's head. The move continued and there was controversy when Sulley Ali Muntari appeared to bundle Marco Marchionni over in the box, but the referee waved play on and replays suggest contact was minimal.
The referee also irritated Inter as soon after as he stopped play with Adriano clear on goal in order to book Amauri for dissent. Ibrahimovic chested down the ball and squeezed his angled drive between a sea of legs for Manninger to block.
Inter had a fantastic chance, as Maicon thumped a free kick to the back post where Muntari was unmarked for a header that Manninger parried with his foot. The Austrian goalkeeper also palmed a Maicon set piece over the bar.
There was a howler from Nicola Legrottaglie on 32 minutes, as his backpass was straight at Ibrahimovic. The Swede sprinted towards goal and was one-on-one with Manninger only to place his angled drive wide of the far post.
Momo Sissoko flung himself at Stankovic to stop a dangerous counter-attack, while Adriano flashed a shot across the face of goal with the aid of a fingertip save from Manninger.
This time Juve went on the counter with Marchionni not getting enough contact to Amauri's cutback. Julio Cesar backpedalled to fingertip Marchisio's splendid lob out from under the crossbar. Marchionni had a great opportunity when Del Piero picked him out, but the former Parma man slipped at the crucial moment.
In first half stoppages Ibra's inspired through ball found Muntari unmarked from 10 yards, but Manninger palmed out his fierce strike for a corner.
After the restart Sissoko's effort was beaten down, but Materazzi was booked for hacking down Del Piero. Stankovic picked up a loose ball in the D and his powerful shot hit Legrottaglie's arm, but it was not a penalty because the arm was laid across the torso.
On the counter Adriano was a little off balance to nod Ibra's cross over, but the Swede had a far better opportunity moments later. He chested down a long ball and sprinted towards the goal, but just like the first half he fired wide of the near post!
Adriano nodded Samuel's assist over and Ibrahimovic was stopped for an incorrect offside flag, as Juve kept their defence on the edge of the centre circle. Mauro Camoranesi replaced Marchionni after a spell of injury.
Inter took the lead in bizarre circumstances. Adriano battled in the air with defenders and Ibra's angled drive was off target, but it turned into an assist for Muntari's easiest of tap-ins. The Juventus defence stood still, as they thought he was offside, but the replays show he was in play. Muntari wasn't entirely sure if he was level either, as he shinned it and almost missed from a yard!
Vincenzo Iaquinta replaced the quiet Amauri and Cambiasso interrupted a promising Camoranesi counter. From the resultin corner Julio Cesar performed a stunning save on Del Piero's header towards the near post!
Julio Cruz replaced Adriano, as Mourinho made his first substitution eight minutes from time. Juve kept pushing, but Inter remained resolute in defence.
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Inter: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Materazzi, Samuel, Maxwell; Muntari (Vieira 89), Cambiasso, Stankovic (Burdisso 85), Zanetti; Ibrahimovic, Adriano (Cruz 82)
Juventus: Manninger; Grygera, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro; Marchionni (Camoranesi 70), Sissoko, Tiago (Marchisio 3), Nedved; Amauri (Iaquinta 76), Del Piero
Ref: Rizzoli
www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0809/int-juv.html