Milan giants showcase style in Serie A
October 19th 2008 22:43
Italian giants Inter and AC Milan have confirmed their status as the teams to beat in the Serie A with terrific displays this morning.
Internazionale stormed to the top of Serie A on Sunday night, playing arguably their best football of the season to demolish Roma.
Goals early in both halves from Zlatan Ibrahimovic made it an uphill struggle for last season's league runners-up while two goals in as many second-half minutes from Dejan Stankovic and Victor Obinna put the defending champions back on top of the pile.
Maicon also hit the post as the Nerazzurri ran riot against a Roma side who lacked the same incisiveness in front of goal as their opponents and, with four defeats in seven matches, they continued their disappointing start to the season, falling nine points behind Inter.
Inter coach Jose Mourinho sprang a surprise in his team selection with Obinna making his first start of the season in attack with Adriano, Mario Balotelli and former Roma forward Mancini all left on the bench.
Obviously, the Inter coach had seen enough of the Nigerian while most of his squad were on international duty over the last fortnight and decided it was time for him to make his bow.
The Nerazzurri were ahead after just five minutes when Ibrahimovic was allowed to run into acres of space after beating the offside trap.
Alexander Doni was caught in two minds whether to come out or not, and by the time he decided to close the gap, he was left in no-man's land.
This left Ibrahimovic an open goal to aim for and he lofted the ball over the Roma goalkeeper from outside the penalty area and into the unguarded net.
Juan almost scored an own goal as he put a corner just wide of his own post.
Maicon then made an inspired run forward from his full-back position, exchanging passes with Obinna on his way into the penalty area, but he was unable to provide the finish with only Doni to beat.
Simone Perrotta had a goal ruled out for a clear offside, but that was the closest Roma were to come to a goal all night.
It took just 65 seconds of the second half for Ibrahimovic to double Inter's lead.
Roma were caught cold once again as the Swede latched onto Sulley Muntari's pass before firing low past Doni.
Simone Loria and Juan were both culpable for the goal, the former failing to cut out Muntari's pass and the latter standing off the Inter striker and allowing him too much time.
Roma reacted well, playing their best football of the night with Perrotta and Alberto Aquilani forcing Julio Cesar to make saves, but Inter needed just two more minutes to finish the game off.
In the 54th minute, Stankovic volleyed in off the post from the edge of the penalty area after Roma failed to clear a corner and Obinna made it four moments later.
Again, the Roma defence stood off and invited him forward, and he sent his shot into the top right-hand corner from 20 yards out.
The home team looked for a consolation with John Arne Riise coming close with a free-kick, but Inter remained a threat on the counter-attack as they invited Roma forward and waited patiently for their chance to break.
In the 72nd minute, Maicon headed against the post with the rebound coming too quickly to Ibrahimovic for him to direct it in.
Meanwhile AC Milan continued their recovery from a rocky start to the season with victory over Sampdoria.
Milan did not have it all their own way in the first half however.
After Marco Borriello had missed from close range for the hosts, Samp took control of the game.
In the sixth minute, Antonio Cassano raced into the area before forcing a good save from Christian Abbiati.
A minute later Cassano turned provider, but Jonathan Bottinelli's header was just wide.
Marco Padalino then tried to set up Gennaro Delvecchio but Paolo Maldini made a timely intervention as Delvecchio prepared to pull the trigger.
In the 21st minute, Delvecchio struck a superb volley which flew just past the right-hand post.
The game then turned in the 54th minute as Lucchini handled to give Ronaldinho the chance from the spot.
Cassano tried to respond to the opener but could not beat Abbiati in the 62nd minute, and moments later Milan doubled their advantage as Kaka went on a superb run before finding Ronaldinho who applied the finish from the edge of the area.
The finishing touch came in the final minute as Invaghi rounded the goalkeeper before slotting home from a tight angle.
| 42 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
