A blog about the latest soccer news, best players, transfer talk and anything else about the world game, with a heavy focus on the Selecao and Inter Milan!
Inter had to travel to Rome to face Lazio for round 31. After Roma’s draw to Cagliari they had a good opportunity to increase their lead at the top once again but ended up stumbling also. Crespo was able to put Inter ahead after only 11 minutes when he tapped in a low pass from Maicon but it wasn’t to last. Rocchi left the Inter defense out to dry as he beat the offside trap and slotted past Julio Cesar in the one on one confrontation just before the hour mark. Inter were lucky enough just to come away with a draw and should thank the crossbar for saving their necks not once but twice in the remaining minutes. Hopefully they can get back on track and not throw away their good work like they did in 2002. Highlights below.
Four goals in 25 minutes from ten men. That’s what was required shortly after Torres sunk Inter’s chances in the 64th minute.
Although Inter played very well for most of the game, they can only blame themselves for not being clinical in front of goal. Too many chances were wasted and although Burdisso’s second yellow just before 50 minutes was soft and they will feel somewhat robbed again, it doesn’t change the fact that they didn’t put away the goals when they should have. Mancini should take some blame for a questionable starting line up. Figo should have started, he’s the only player that could have consistently opened up Liverpool’s defense and supply the attackers with the perfect ball. Although Zlatan failed to deliver yet again in a big match, the pressure perhaps too much for him. At least the defense was playing well, apart from the occasional Maicon lapse but Cambiasso and Vieira needed creativity in front of them.
We’ll have to suffer some more this season as champions league glory isn’t realised for the umpteenth time. Check out the highlights below, hopefully they’ll last without UEFA claiming them off youtube.
A quick post to summarise the result between Inter and Milan in the classic Milan derby.
The game ended 2-1 in Inter’s favour with goals from Julio Cruz and Cambiasso on either side of half-time. Adrea Pirlo opened the scoring to put Milan up 1-0 from a trademark free-kick just outside the box around 17 mins although Ibrahimovic was unlucky not to score early on with a powerful volley just above the bar from a Maicon cross.
Dida saved Milan on 19 minutes by tipping away a cross that was about to hit the feet of an Inter player. He took a knock from one of his players for his trouble and almost conceded as the ball was shot into the bar from the deflection. Around 32 minutes, Kaka’ went on a blazing run that had Samuel not knowing which way to turn, in fact it looked like he twisted his knee on the final turn. On 35 minutes, Julio Cruz leveled the score with a pin-point accurate shot, slotting the ball through defenders, legs and the near post.
There were signs a second goal was coming and on 62 minutes, Cambiasso took a shot that wrong-footed Dida who could only helplessly wave his legs aroung in a futile attempt to deflect the ball away, 2-1 Inter. Finally towards the end of the game Kaka’ had a volley saved by his fellow country-man, Julio Cesar. He was also unlucky not to score and could very well have tied the match.
Brazil crushed Equador 5-0 in last night’s world cup 2010 qualifier. The festivities began after a characteristic burst down the right flank by Maicon, which left the Equador defense stranded, followed by a cut-back on the line to allow Vagner Love the easiest of tap-ins. Next Kaka’ took an optimistic shot from some distance which allowed Ronaldinho to put an evil deflection on the ball’s path and completely wrong-foot the keeper who, try as he might, just could not reach the ball in time. Seems the Kaka’/Ronaldinho partnership is paying off finally.
The third goal was a perfect strike by Kaka’ on the edge of the area. The ball landed well for him and he curled it precisely into the top-right corner to leave the keeper without a chance again. Four-nil came when Robinho turned on the flare right on the corner-line. He beat his marker with some outrageous moves in the tightest of spaces and eventually Elano blasted home the goal. The final goal to end Equador’s misery was again Kaka’s doing but it was hardly the most spectacular of goals. A simple shot hit directly at the keeper proved too much to hold on to and he let in a howler (or “frango” as the Brazilian’s like to call it). Watch the highlights below.
So the hype and comments are flying as Inter and Roma prepare to do battle to decide the strongest of serie A on the weekend in an epic top of the table clash.
Roma is in blistering form and playing some of the most attractive football in all European competitions at the moment. Inter is up and down as usual but Ibrahimovic is also in blistering form and can’t seem to put a foot wrong! He is sitting at the top of the scoring charts, tied with Trezeque on 6 goals, 2 above Totti.
Inter is somewhat depleted in defense with Materazzi, Maicon and Viera out because of injuries and suspensions. It will be interesting to see what Mancini can do with the players on hand. Roma also has a few injuries to deal with so both teams will have to adjust their regular line-ups.
Roma will have the advantage of a home crowd but Inter go into the match off a 3-0 thumping of Sampadoria in the middle of the week. Hopefully it will be another classic like the 06 supercup match between the two teams…
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If you’d like to see the highlights of Inter’s 3-0 waxing of Sampadoria earlier in the week, see below. A brace for Ibrahimovic and Figo magic to wrap it up.
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Edit: Inter vs Roma = 4-1
You can read my brief review or just skip to the match highlights below.
The score doesn’t tell the full story but it was a convincing win by Inter over an ultimately 10-man Roma. Early on Roma were playing some good football but after Guily blatantly and intentionally handled the ball in the area to prevent a header, following a blocked shot, from going in, Roma were reduced to 10 men. Ibrahimovic calmly put away the penalty.
After that it looked like Roma were going to save themselves and hold out for a draw with Perrota leveling the score. But it wasn’t to last as the immense pressure that Inter laid on eventually cracked Roma open. First with Crespo putting away a deflected Cambiasso shot, then Cruz blasting in a long range effort and finally Cordoba headed home the final nail in the coffin.
