Inter beat Juve in five-goal thriller (Inter 3 - Juventus 2)
MILAN - Inter remain in the running for fourth place in the championship with a highly convincing 3-2 win over arch rivals Juventus at the San Siro on Sunday evening.
Firing on all cylinders and roared on by the fans, the Nerazzurri got off to a flier. In the 6th minute Obafemi Martins lifted the ball over Buffon to finish off a superb move started by Kily. The Argentina winger played forward to Vieri, who in turn passed to Stankovic. The Serb wizard, playing in a more advanced midfield role, took on Legrottaglie to set up the Nigerian for his finish.
Juventus rallied and on 25 minutes drew level from a counter-attack when Kily Gonzalez headed Camoranesi's right-wing cross into his own net at the near post.
But Inter recovered quickly and went into the break with a psychologically important 2-1 lead. On the stroke of half time Stankovic was tripped by Zambrotta and after consulting the linesman Collina pointed to the spot. Vieri stepped up and beat Buffon with a fiercely struck penalty kick, his 106th goal in black and blue.
It took the Nerazzurri just two minutes of the second half to increase their lead. Dejan Stankovic poked home at the far post after Cordoba's flicked header from Farinos' right-wing corner.
Keeping the two-goal advantage was facilitated when Uruguayan defender Montero was shown a second yellow for a foul on Martins in the 62nd minute, and the Nerazzurri proceeded to dominate.
In the last minute of added time Juve reduced the deficit when Di Vaio powered home a header from Maresca's free kick, but it was too little, too late for the Bianconeri.
Inter are in action again this coming Thursday as the focus switches to the Uefa Cup and the quarter-final first leg away to Marseille.
Match facts:
Scorers: Martins 6', Kily Gonzalez (o.g.) 25', Vieri (pen) 45', Stankovic 47', Di Vaio 90'+3'
Booked: Montero 11', Farinos 54'
Sent-off: Montero 62' (second bookable offence)
Referee: Collina (Viareggio)
INTER: 12 Fontana, 2 Cordoba, 4 J. Zanetti , 6 C.Zanetti, 11 Stankovic (19 Karagounis 69'), 14 Farinos (25 Almeyda 55'), 18 Kily Gonzalez (13 Helveg 82') , 23 Materazzi, 24 Gamarra, 30' Martins, 32 Vieri
Subs not used: 71 Cordaz, 9 Cruz, 10 Adriano, 17 Cannavaro
Coach: Alberto Zaccheroni
JUVENTUS: 1 Buffon, 3 Tacchinardi, 4 Montero, 5 Tudor, 9 Miccoli (20 Di Vaio 56'), 15 Birindelli, 16 Camoranesi (8 Conte 72'), 17 Trezeguet, 18 Appiah (14 Maresca 46'), 19 Zambrotta, 23 Legrottaglie
Subs not used: 22 Mirante, 7 Pessotto, 13 Iuliano, 34 Chiumiento
Coach: Marcello Lippi
source: inter.it
