Inter Milan 5 AS Roma 3
The returning Wesley Sneijder inspired the Nerazzurri to victory in a quite remarkable contest. The win sees them cut their great rivals A. C. Milan’s lead at the top of Serie A to just four points. In a match that from start to finish was a joy to watch the Dutchman opened the scoring inside three minutes with a stunning strike. Fabio Simplicio equalised for Ranieri’s Roma, before a Samuel Eto’o brace either side of the interval, the second a penalty, put the home side in command.
A red card for Nicolas Burdisso’s on the hour for the challenge that led to the referee pointing to the spot looked to have ended the contest, couple with a Thiago Motta tap in that saw Inter establish a three goal lead over the ten men. Goals in just over five minutes from Mirko Vucinic and Simone Loria put Roma back in it and set up a tense finish. In the last minute of the ninety, as the visitors looked for an equaliser to complete a most remarkable comeback, the Nerazzurri sealed the win through Esteban Cambiasso.
Sneijder’s opener was something special. Maicon romped down the right and passed to the Dutchman who created the opening from the edge of the area from where he found the top corner with Julio Sergio merely a spectator in the Roma goal.
Ranieri got a response from his side after going a goal down. Marco Borriello drew a save from Julio Cesar at the near post before Simplicio equalised. Vucinic ran at the Inter defence and found Marco Cassetti on the overlap from full back. His cross found the Brazilian midfielder ahead of compatriot Maicon, the wing back caught in a centre half’s position, to tap in and level the score.
Roma could well have been in front were it not for two top saves in quick succession from Cesar. The inexperienced partnership at centre half of Ivan Cordoba and Andrea Ranocchia was exploited by the visiting front three. Borriello played in Jeremy Menez, but his shot was parried by the Brazilian stopper who kept the rebound out which the Italian international had headed goalwards. A third, more comfortable save from a tight angle from the Frenchman followed.
Leonardo’s side began to press, Sneijder’s free kick was spilled by Sergio but Cassetti blocked any follow up with Eto’o lurking. Last ditch defending from Roma denied Giampaolo Pazzini and Cambiasso from getting shots in inside the area. With thirty minutes gone Sergio saved well from another Sneijder long range effort.
Eto’o broke the deadlock ten minutes before half time. The Cameroonian international came inside off the right flank, touched it past John Arne Riise and slotted it into the net under Sergio, who will feel he should have done better.
After the break Inter had a great chance to extend their lead, but Pazzini was flagged offside running onto Cambiasso’s incisive pass. The Nerazzurri did increase their lead just after the hour when Burdisso brought down Pazzini after he cut across him. Sneijder played a delightful through ball over the top which led to the concession of the penalty. The Argentine centre got an early bath and Eto’o placed the spot kick expertly into the corner to put Leonardo’s side 3-1 up.
Loria was brought off the bench to fill the void in the visiting defence. Inter continued to look to increase their lead against the ten men. Maicon fed Sneijder on the counter who passed to Eto’o on the left and Pazzini’s shot from his cross was kept out by Sergio. The Dutchman and Cameroonian were involved in creating the Nerazzurri’s fourth goal, with Motta heading home from close range. It was served up on a plate for the Brazilian as Sneijder’s deep cross was nodded back into the danger area by Eto’o with the Roma defence static.
Daniele De Rossi’s deflected free kick found Vucinic with fifteen minutes remaining and the Montenegrin guided it past the wrong-footed Cesar for what appeared to be only a consolation. Five minutes later Ranieri’s side had got themselves within a goal of pulling level once more. A powerful header from a corner by Juan cracked the post and the rebound was seized upon by substitute Loria.
Inter spurned chances to put the match to bed, largely thanks to the Japanese full back Yuto Nagatomo off the bench, his endeavour and willingness to get to the by line led to chances for Eto’o and Maicon. Substitute Diego Milito missed a guilt edge chance that would have put the matter beyond doubt, stabbing wide from two yards out as an Eto’o shot rebounded off the goalkeeper to him too quickly to react properly.
Cambiasso wrapped up the win for the Nerazzurri in the ninetieth minute. Again Eto’o came in from a wide position. His cross was parried by Sergio and fell to the feet of Inter’s captain Javier Zanetti who unselfishly squared to his compatriot to pass the ball into the net.
To say that this match was thoroughly absorbing is a massive understatement. There isn’t going to be a better advert for Serie A and Italian football than this wonderful game all season. Whilst that is no consolation to Ranieri and Roma, who have lost ground in their quest for the Scudetto, the positives he can draw from are the way in which his side continued to attack and score after losing a man.
With A. C. Milan dropping two points at Genoa earlier today, it seems Leonardo and Inter are right back in the hunt for successfully defending the Italian league crown. The Nerazzurri look completely rejuvenated with the additions of Pazzini and Houssine Kharja in midfield, as well as the timely return to fitness of Sneijder. No question he was man of the match tonight and his club look a completely different side to how they did under Rafael Benitez.
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