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Inter 1-1 Roma: Nerazzurri Forced To Settle For A Point
The Beneamata was brought to a halt as they shared the spoils with a determined Giallorossi at the San Siro.
Nov 8, 2009 4:37:54 PM
Inter were looking to put restore their seven point lead at the top of the Serie A standings as they welcomed Roma to the San Siro for the weekend posticipo.
The visitors found an early opener when Mirko Vucinic caught Julio Cesar by surprise with a super long range header. Inter looked to fight back but were left frustrated as Roma’s Julio Sergio produced a number of top notch saves to keep his side ahead at the break.
Samuel Eto’o leveled the scoring shortly after the re-start as Inter came out firing in the second period. Despite throwing everything and more at the visitors late on however, Mourinho’s men couldn’t find a second and were forced to settle for a draw.
Roma came storming out the blocks and Vucinic had a golden chance to put the visitors ahead after just 120 seconds. Fortunately for the Nerazzurri the Montenegrin turned the wrong way as he neared the box, and Lucio stepped in the intercept the danger.
Mourinho’s men soon found their feet and looked extremely threatening down the right as Douglas Maicon overlapped with Eto’o leaving John Arne Riise with his hands full.
On 12 minutes it was the Giallorossi broke the deadlock however when Vucinic headed home Marco Motta’s deep cross, catching Julio Cesar by surprise at the near post. The Lupi had been rewarded for their positive start and once again showed their nous in how to trouble the Nerazzurri in their own back yard.
Just five minutes later Diego Milito almost leveled the scoring when he slipped through the Roma offside trap to break into the box. With Motta bearing down on his shoulder, ‘El Principe’ unleashed a venomous shot towards the far post but his effort was spectacularly blocked by Julio Sergio.
On 25 minutes the Giallorossi almost gifted the home side an equalizer when Philippe Mexes put Julio Sergio under immense pressure with his weak headed back-pass. The Roma glovesman was forced to fly off his line and punch clear, as a hungry Milito loomed nearby ready to poach a goal.
As the first period wore on the Lupi continued to look dangerous on the counter attack. Jeremy Menez was on the receiving end of a number of heavy challenges, as the Nerazzurri opted to take the physical approach to stop the Frenchman from nearing the box.
Eight minutes before the break Roma once again had their ‘keeper to thank for their lead when he tipped Sulley Muntari’s powerful effort over the bar. The Ghanaian had struck from a difficult angle, but Julio Sergio proved more than alert between the sticks.
As the side’s neared the first half interval, the atmosphere became increasingly heated following a number of heavy challenges from both sides. Referee Gianluca Rocchi was made to work overtime as he looked to keep the tension from boiling over.
Vucinic Broke The Deadlock With A Super Header
Inter came out firing after the re-start and Eto’o took just three minutes to level the scoring. The Cameroonian found space to shoot when he turned beautifully inside the box, and he left the Roma ‘keeper with no chance as he nestled the ball into the bottom far corner.
The Nerazzurri took heart from their early leveler and Mourinho’s men quickly had the entire Lupi XI pushed back behind the ball. With the introduction of Mario Balotelli, the home side were making much better use of the wide areas as they attacked with intent.
Roma eventually began to advance once again, and Menez was extremely unfortunate not to find the back of the net when Julio Cesar made a decisive block to keep the scores level on 63 minutes.
The sides began to stretch as fatigue started to take its toll following the physical nature of the opening hour. With the added space to play with, Roma took a greater hold on the midfield as Inter’s muscle failed to get a hold on the ball.
On 78 minutes Milito had a golden chance to put his side ahead when he connected with a Balotelli cross at the near post. ‘El Principe’ couldn’t test the ‘keeper however, as an alert Andreolli put his body on the line to block the header.
The Nerazzurri continued to insist in the closing stages, and Balotelli peppered the box with a number of crosses from out wide. Ranieri’s men were becoming increasingly last ditch, as brought men back in numbers to protect their under siege goal.
With just minutes left on the clock, Milito almost steered a loose Balotelli shot goalbound as he slid along the deck at full stretch desperate to steer home the winner. Despite his endeavor the ball zipped past him and the ball run out of play to the dismay of the Curva Nord faithful.
Despite their late charge Inter couldn’t find a winner and Roma held on for a moral boosting point. Mourinho’s men stretched their lead at the top of the standings to five, and they head into the international break with a comfortable gap over second placed Juventus.
Stefano Federici, Goal.com
Keep up to date with Serie A and Italy news with Goal.com's Italy page
The visitors found an early opener when Mirko Vucinic caught Julio Cesar by surprise with a super long range header. Inter looked to fight back but were left frustrated as Roma’s Julio Sergio produced a number of top notch saves to keep his side ahead at the break.
Samuel Eto’o leveled the scoring shortly after the re-start as Inter came out firing in the second period. Despite throwing everything and more at the visitors late on however, Mourinho’s men couldn’t find a second and were forced to settle for a draw.
Roma came storming out the blocks and Vucinic had a golden chance to put the visitors ahead after just 120 seconds. Fortunately for the Nerazzurri the Montenegrin turned the wrong way as he neared the box, and Lucio stepped in the intercept the danger.
Mourinho’s men soon found their feet and looked extremely threatening down the right as Douglas Maicon overlapped with Eto’o leaving John Arne Riise with his hands full.
On 12 minutes it was the Giallorossi broke the deadlock however when Vucinic headed home Marco Motta’s deep cross, catching Julio Cesar by surprise at the near post. The Lupi had been rewarded for their positive start and once again showed their nous in how to trouble the Nerazzurri in their own back yard.
Just five minutes later Diego Milito almost leveled the scoring when he slipped through the Roma offside trap to break into the box. With Motta bearing down on his shoulder, ‘El Principe’ unleashed a venomous shot towards the far post but his effort was spectacularly blocked by Julio Sergio.
On 25 minutes the Giallorossi almost gifted the home side an equalizer when Philippe Mexes put Julio Sergio under immense pressure with his weak headed back-pass. The Roma glovesman was forced to fly off his line and punch clear, as a hungry Milito loomed nearby ready to poach a goal.
As the first period wore on the Lupi continued to look dangerous on the counter attack. Jeremy Menez was on the receiving end of a number of heavy challenges, as the Nerazzurri opted to take the physical approach to stop the Frenchman from nearing the box.
Eight minutes before the break Roma once again had their ‘keeper to thank for their lead when he tipped Sulley Muntari’s powerful effort over the bar. The Ghanaian had struck from a difficult angle, but Julio Sergio proved more than alert between the sticks.
As the side’s neared the first half interval, the atmosphere became increasingly heated following a number of heavy challenges from both sides. Referee Gianluca Rocchi was made to work overtime as he looked to keep the tension from boiling over.
Vucinic Broke The Deadlock With A Super Header
Inter came out firing after the re-start and Eto’o took just three minutes to level the scoring. The Cameroonian found space to shoot when he turned beautifully inside the box, and he left the Roma ‘keeper with no chance as he nestled the ball into the bottom far corner.
The Nerazzurri took heart from their early leveler and Mourinho’s men quickly had the entire Lupi XI pushed back behind the ball. With the introduction of Mario Balotelli, the home side were making much better use of the wide areas as they attacked with intent.
Roma eventually began to advance once again, and Menez was extremely unfortunate not to find the back of the net when Julio Cesar made a decisive block to keep the scores level on 63 minutes.
The sides began to stretch as fatigue started to take its toll following the physical nature of the opening hour. With the added space to play with, Roma took a greater hold on the midfield as Inter’s muscle failed to get a hold on the ball.
On 78 minutes Milito had a golden chance to put his side ahead when he connected with a Balotelli cross at the near post. ‘El Principe’ couldn’t test the ‘keeper however, as an alert Andreolli put his body on the line to block the header.
The Nerazzurri continued to insist in the closing stages, and Balotelli peppered the box with a number of crosses from out wide. Ranieri’s men were becoming increasingly last ditch, as brought men back in numbers to protect their under siege goal.
With just minutes left on the clock, Milito almost steered a loose Balotelli shot goalbound as he slid along the deck at full stretch desperate to steer home the winner. Despite his endeavor the ball zipped past him and the ball run out of play to the dismay of the Curva Nord faithful.
Despite their late charge Inter couldn’t find a winner and Roma held on for a moral boosting point. Mourinho’s men stretched their lead at the top of the standings to five, and they head into the international break with a comfortable gap over second placed Juventus.
Stefano Federici, Goal.com
Keep up to date with Serie A and Italy news with Goal.com's Italy page
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