Apart from some matches of the Russian championship at its end, the Milan derby is the most predictable sight in European football. Say, when you sit down to watch the London bargains or the Spanish "classic", then first of all you hope for "something like that." 6 goals and a draw 3: 3, for example.
From skirmishes of two owners of "San Siro" this is not expected. And they’re doing it right. There are many struggles, responsibility is even greater, tactics spills over the edge, the density of the game is close to lead. It is rarely scored a lot. But if this happens, everyone shakes their heads in dismay. This season has already happened, because in the first round match they counted 7 goals and the victory of Inter with an advantage in the ball.
The repetition of such an ugly scoring freethinking did not happen. The second round match turned out to be classic. The game is under great pressure. And the additional flavor of the circumstances involved.
Ronaldo in the shirt of "Milan" - time. Inglorious return of Inter from Valencia - two. Ancelotti's team lagged behind the top four and frighteningly real Empoli claims for the Champions League - three. Well, and so on.
With Ronaldo, everything turned out wonderful - fans of Inter brought thousands of whistles and carefully indignant at the sight of the Brazilian. Seriously plump forward, cheered up by simple human emotions, scored another goal in Serie A. It turned out just fine, as always.
Inter also did not disappoint. And after a relatively equal start, the Rossoneri had to run back to their gates. Attempts to counterattack stalled. Usually Kaka took the ball, beat two or three opponents remarkably, and only then decided what else could be done. As a rule, little could be done, because the partners supported the Brazilian sluggishly.
In other words, the Nerazzuri defended in defense. Something happened in the attack too. Crespo struck a little inaccurate after a gross error of someone else's defense. Figo cool beat two already in the goalkeeper, but the transfer did not work out. The closest to success was Ibrahimovic, whom Bonera, as it seemed, dumped in the penalty area. True, the referee did not appoint a penalty, but the episode was remembered.
In the second half, Roberto Mancini conceived a replacement. It was possible to take off the dozing Ibrahimovic, but the head coach of Inter recalled the seemingly energetic Crespo from the field. It turned out that was what was needed. Coming out Cruz scored with the first touch. The Argentine was helped a little by Dida, who did not grab the ball properly after Ibrahimovic's lumbago.
The goalkeeper of nominal guests played generally unconvincingly, despite the recently renewed contract. The second time Dida surrendered after the blow of the Swede himself. However, the whole “Milan” was already in a decadent mood: it fell apart on the left, Yankulovski, missed Gattuso from a good position, the right flank of Oddo and Kafa, which replaced it, did not refresh.
Against the background of an rival tired of life, “Inter” looked solid and confident. Ibrahimovic was not afraid of anyone at all. Figo and Cruz decided which of them was the most useful. The victory seemed so deserved that after the match, even Silvio Berlusconi did not dispute it.
In the end, Empoli in the Champions League is even curious.
Vladimir STOGNIENKO
INTER - MILAN - 2: 1 (0: 1)
Goals: 0: 1 - Ronaldo (40), 1: 1 - Cruz (54), 2: 1 - Ibrahimovic (75).
INTER: Julio Cesar, Burdisso, Cordoba, Materazzi, H.Zanetti, Grosso (Maxwell, 18), Stankovic, Dakur (Samuel, 46), Figo, Ibrahimovic, Crespo (Cruz, 54).
MILAN: Dida, Oddo (Kafu, 62), Bonera, Maldini, Yankulovsky, Ambrosini, Gattuso (Gurkuff, 79), Pirlo, Seedorf (Gilardino, 71), Kaka, Ronaldo.
Warnings: Ibrahimovic (30), Samuel (71), Pirlo (71), Cordoba (86).
11th of March. "Giuseppe Meazza".
Judge: Nicola Rizzoli (Bologna).
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