Inter cruise past Bologna to go fourth (Inter 4 - Bologna 2)
MILAN - Inter put the midweek Uefa Cup exit behind them with a 4-2 victory over Bologna on Sunday afternoon. The morale-boosting result sees the Nerazzurri move fourth in the Serie A as Parma were held at home to Juventus.
Recoba combined with Adriano to fire Zaccheroni's men into the lead in the 33rd minute. The Brazilian wriggled free of two opponents on the left then sent a pin-point cross in for the Uruguayan to place past Pagliuca from the edge of the six-yard box.
Forced off the pitch in the final minutes of the first half due to a calf injury, Il Chino was replaced by Obafemi Martins, who played a pivotal role in the second period.
After Fabio Cannavaro stole in at the near post to head home Kily's right-wing corner in the 53rd minute, the Nigerian forward received from Adriano in the middle of the Bologna area and unselfishly passed to the unmarked Stankovic, who slotted home from seven yards to put Inter 3-0 up.
Bologna pulled one back on 68 minutes through substitute Bellucci, who beat Brechet before sending an angled shot past Toldo and in at the far post, then three minutes later Martins restored Inter's three-goal advantage with a magnificent solo effort. After meeting an Adriano pass, the Nigerian turned Moretti then beat Pagliuca with a clinical finish from nine yards out.
Bologna weren't finished and Bellucci grabbed his second on 77 minutes with a low volley past Toldo after a pass from Locatelli, but it wasn't enough to stop Inter from registering their fifth consecutive Serie A win.
The Nerazzurri entertain Lazio in Week 31 of the championship next Sunday.
Match facts:
Scorers: Recoba 33', Cannavaro 53', Stankovic 55', Bellucci 68', 77', Martins 71'
Booked: Nervo 22', Dalla Bona 28', Natali 89'
Referee: Tombolini
INTER: 1 Toldo, 2 Cordoba, 4 J. Zanetti , 10 Adriano (8 Lamouchi 85'), 11 Stankovic, 13 Helveg, 14 Farinos, 15 Adani (31 Brechet 66'), 17 Cannavaro, 18 Kily Gonzalez, 20 Recoba (30 Martins 45'+2')
Subs not used: 12 Fontana, 9 Cruz, 26 Pasquale, 29 Biava
Coach: Alberto Zaccheroni
BOLOGNA: 1 Pagliuca, 5 Moretti, 7 Nervo, 8 Dalla Bona, 10 Signori (20 Locatelli 69'), 14 Natali, 16 Nakata, 17 Tare, 21 Colucci (11 Bellucci 46'), 23 Sussi, 25 Gamberini
Subs not used: 12 Manninger, 2 Zaccardo, 31 Meghni, 34 Loviso, 35 Pecchia
Coach: Carlo Mazzone
source: inter.it.
