Udinese 2-3 Inter - 7M sport

Udinese 2-3 Inter

Posted Monday, March 01, 2010 by Goal.com

The Nerazzurri held on, courtesy of the crossbar.

Inter got back on track in Serie A after three consecutive draws with a thrilling 3-2 win over Udinese. The league-leaders fell behind early, but responded with some clinical finishes.

The home side were without long-term absentee Gaetano D'Agostino in midfield, while youngster Alexis Sanchez was given another star upfront. Meanwhile, the visitors had a whole host of suspensions, with Esteban Cambiasso, Sulley Muntari, Walter Samuel, Ivan Cordoba, and coach Jose Mourinho serving bans. Thus, Thiago Motta was employed as a makeshift centre-back.

Immediately there was a goal! On the counter, Antonio Di Natale found space on the edge of the box and threaded through for Simone Pepe, who beat the offside trap and slotted past Julio Cesar with ease.

The action continued and Inter responded within three minutes! Maicon dribbled past men on the right flank before squaring for the unmarked Mario Balotelli, who controlled and volleyed the ball into the net from just outside the area!

Playmaker Wesley Sneijder nearly fired in one of his trademark freekicks, but it curled just wide with shot stopper Samir Handanovic rooted to the spot. At the other end, Pasquale left Maicon and McDonald Mariga for dead, but his weak shot was saved will by the 'keeper at the near post.

Inter took the lead with a quite spectacular team effort on 20 minutes, Diego Milito cut back for Goran Pandev, who chipped the ball into the box for the rampaging Maicon to one-time the ball ferociously into the top of the net!

Di Natale was once again involved as he was fed into the area by Sanchez. The Italian international tried to round the 'keeper, but the angle was too tight and he slipped, requiring some treatment on the sidelines. The 32-year-old was able to continue.

Beneamata captain Javier Zanetti was cautioned for a handball in midfield, stopping another counter from the Zabrette. Meanwhile, a stray arm from Aleksandar Lukovic struck Milito in the face, but it was deemed unintentional. It seemed to wake up the Argentine, who headed in a Balotelli cross from the left to give them a 3-1 lead on the stroke of half-time.

Udinese tried to respond at the outset of the second-half, but Serie A top-scorer Di Natale's stinging drive was palmed away by Julio Cesar.

Indeed, it was Di Natale, who cut the defecit back to one. A freekick was blocked by an elbow in the wall and the referee awarded the spot-kick. Pepe had dispatched the ball into the net, but the whistle had already blown and the penalty was given and duly converted.

The hosts continued to apply pressure, but often failed to find the final telling ball in promising situations as they burst forward with the opposition scrambling.

Goalkeeper Samir Handanovic made the save of the match after the Nerazzurri's passing stretched the defence as he punched the ball away with the unmarked Milito and Pandev ready for a tap in from Maicon's cross.

Samuel Eto'o was introduced for the tiring Macedonian and had an immediate imapct as he fired wide. However, it was Juan Cuadrado who missed the easiest chance, tapping wide after Pepe's lob had sent him clear on goal!

Inter held on in injury time courtesy of the crossbar as a deflected effort was the last action of the match, leaving Inter to celebrate the victory and Udinese to rue missed chances.



Attention: Third parties may advertise their products and/or services on our website.7M does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of their contents.
Your dealings with such third parties are solely between you and such third parties and we shall not be liable in any way for any loss or damage of any sort incurred by you.