22 November 2008

Ill luck has the best over bravery

It is immediately an unlucky start for the bianconeri with Tiago having to be substituted after just thirty seconds from the start of the match. Marchisio is on for the Portuguese midfielder who tripped over Stankovic. The bianconeri immediately ahve to deal with the change in midfield which somehow disrupted Ranieri’s plans.

The beginning of the match sees Inter taking the initiative with Juventus clearly studying their opponent. In the 7th minute Legrottaglie clears after an Inter initiative but three minutes later it is the turn of the Inter defence with Cambiasso who has to intervene after a great move by the Juventus captain.

Manninger showed all his class as the initial stages of the game saw the home team pressing on the accelerator with Juventus trying to fight back on the counter-attack. In the 16th minute however Nedved passes to Del Piero who dishes out a touch of class but Samwel sends the ball into corner.The Inter defence clears, the ball reaches Grygera who sees his attempt go high over the post.

The match became more balanced with the passing of the minutes and the ball began moving from one side to the other of the field with attempts on both sides. The duel between Sissoko and Ibrahimovic is becoming quite evident and in the 15th minute Rizzoli speaks to both players asking them to tone down.

Four minutes later Del Piero crosses into the area but the Inter defence clears. The ball reaches Marchisio who sees his ball being cleared and on the 20th minute ’ Adriano heads the ball weakly straight into Manninger’s hands.

The great duo : Amauri and Del Piero exchange a number of passes moving forward, Amauri passes to Nedved who is caught unprepared and the ball rolls lazily out. This however is a clear indication that Juventus are getting into time with the match. In the 22nd minute Del Piero crosses the ball into the area, Amauri tries to head but Cesar saves. One minute later a suspicious intervention of Muntari on Marchionni in the area however the referee says play-on.

Manninger is in great shape and this is proven by a number of saves on Ibrahimovic, Maicon and Adriano. In the 30th minute a great pass by Del Piero to Amauri who sees the ball being cleared into touch.

The next four minutes see Juventus suffer the Inter initiative. On the 32nd minute Legrottaglie makes a mistake in the midfield with Ibrahimovic taking the ball and running towards goal but the Swedish striker shoots inches wide. Juventus are relieved. Two minutes later Adriano sees the ball go beyond the line after an extremely dangerous shot.

Juventus however refuse to sit and stare. In the 38th minute a mistake by Samwel sees Amauri running up the right flank. The Brazilian crosses into the area where there is Marchionni but his attempt at goal is weak. Juventus insist and 5 minutes later Juventus in two dangerous attacks in one minute. The first sees Marchisio with a great shot from outside the area and Cesar forced to push into corner and seconds later ball dangerously inside the area but Marchionni’s ball is cleared by the Inter defence.

The half ends with Inter on the attack and Manninger proving himself worthy of the black and white shirt. The Austrian goalkeeper saves following a strong shot by Muntari. From the resulting corner its once again Manninger who is the hero.

The second half begins with Juventus on the attack. One minute into the second half, the lines-man awards a corner to Juventus. From the rebound Sissoko shoots but the ball is cleared by Materazzi.

In the 50th minute Materazzi is deservingly shown the yellow card after an extremely dangerous foul on the Juventus captain. The nerves of the players in blue and black are on edge as Samwel is shown the yellow card too just three minutes later after Materazzi. This is to prove the pressure Juventus are putting on the Inter defence.

On the 57th minute a great pass by Molinaro to Del Piero who is stopped by the opponents’ defence. Four minutes later it is once again Juventus with a good initiative but the final cross leaves much to desire.

The match is interesting with action shifting from side to the other of the pitch. In the 63rd minute Adriano heads high after a cross by Ibrahimovic and one minute later a dangerous incursion by Ibrahimovic with the Swede sending the ball wide.

Juventus react and in the 65th Del Piero crosses into the area but Samwel clears before the Juventus attack manages to head the ball. Three minutes later An Inter defence indecision sees Amauri dangerously in the area. Camoranesi comes on for Marchionni on the 69th minute. But three minutes later its Inter who manage to score. The Juventus defence is caught unprepared and Muntari from a dubious position finds it easy to put the ball at the back of the net: 1-0 for Inter.

Ranieri tries to mix his cards and bring on Iaquinta for Amauri. In the 81st minute a Camoranesi corner finds Del Piero ready to head the ball with precision but Cesar outdoes himself and saves.

Luck is not on the side of Juventus tonight as all attempts to draw go wasted. In the 89th minute Camoranesi moves dangerously in the area but the ball is cleared with some difficulty by the Inter defence. Nothing much happens to the end of the match and Inter manage to beat Juventus at the San Siro after four years.
Serie A 2008/09 13th Day
Milan, Giuseppe Meazza Stadium
Saturday 30th November

INTER – JUVENTUS 1-0

Scorers : 72nd Muntari,

INTER: Cesar; Maicon, Samwel, Materazzi, Maxwell; Zanetti, Cambiasso, Muntari (89’ Vieira), Stankovic (84’ Burdisso); Ibrahimovic, Adriano. Reserves: Toldo, Burdisso, Figo, Vieira, Quaresma, Cruz (82’ Cruz), Crespo. Coach : Mourinho.

JUVENTUS: Manninger; Grygera, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro; Marchionni (69’ Camoranesi), Sissoko, Tiago (1’ Marchisio), Nedved; Del Piero, Amauri (76’ Iaquinta). Reserves: Chimenti, Mellberg, De Ceglie, Marchisio, Camoranesi, Giovinco; Iaquinta Coach : Ranieri.

REFEREE : Rizzoli (Bologna)

Yellow Cards : 25’ Amauri, 28’ Legrottaglie, 50’ Materazzi, 53’ Samwel.

Source : Juventus.com