Inter Milan 1 – 1 Sampdoria
Inter Milan overcame a poor first half performance to get a point against Sampdoria in Serie A.
The champions-by-default had few opportunities in the first 45, and fell behind on a soft penalty in the 47th.
Inter keeper Julio Cesar errantly stayed on his line, leaving defender Ivan Cordoba to struggle for a high bouncing ball with Sampdoria forward Francesco Flachi. The referee awarded the penalty and Flachi took it himself as Sampdoria grabbed a surprise 1 – 0 lead.
The goal seemed to wake up the Nerazzurri as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Hernan Crespo, and Luis Figo all came close to equalizing.
The Inter Milan faithful began urging their team forward, but when the home side didn’t obey FIFA’s new directive on injured opponents, and put the ball out for Sampdoria’s slightly injured Massimo Bonanni, jeers directed at Inter’s lack of killer instinct, rang throughout the San Siro.
It appeared Inter had finally made good on 71 when Crespo flicked-on from Ibrahimovic, and Viera knocked it home, but the play was ruled offside on the flick.
The close calls kept coming and on 79, the Nerazzurri finally equalized off a corner that Cordoba flicked dangerously across the goal mouth. The ball caromed off Bonanni for an own goal.
Three minutes later it looks as though Inter would claim all the points. But Adriano might have been harshly ruled for a push-off as he fired home from close range.
Although Inter’s second half performance was almost up to par, after the mid-week Champions League loss, questions will still be asked of the newly-appointed top team in Italy.
Related:
Champions League Wrap 12.09.06 – Wednesday, September 13th, 2006
Champions League Fixtures 12.09.06 13.09.06 – Monday, September 11th, 2006
Inter Milan Champions of Italy Again? – Saturday, September 9th, 2006
Boca Juniors returned to Buenos Aires and a heroes welcome after becoming the all-time international title winners Thursday night. The Argentina greats grabbed their 16th international trophy with a 4 – 3 aggregate win over Sao Paulo in the Recopa.
