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I can’t believe it! Last night I was unable to watch the match and typically it seems to have been an unmissable game with ‘il Principe’ scoring all four of Inter’s goals, a feat last acheived by Christian ‘Bobo’ Vieri on the 1st December 2002 when the Nerazzurri beat Brescia 4-0.
Despite the incredable performance at the attacking end of the pitch it seems that our defence and Julio Cesar in goal had a nightmare game letting in just as many goals including a hattrick from Miccoli meaning that we take just one point from this home game
The snow began yesterday in Milan, but at the San Siro – thanks to the work of a ground crew that had been at work since 7:00 this morning – everything was under control and the match went on as planned. Ranieri started with a diamond midfield and Sneijder behind forwards Pazzini and Milito. New signing Palombo was on the bench while Alvarez was ruled out due to fatigue.
Right away the crowd witnessed interplay between Pazzini and Sneijder with Pazzo’s cross finding the Dutchman’s head, only to see the ball go wide. After an individual run Poli was stopped by the Rosanero defence before the ball found Cambiasso; El Cuchu shot from distance and there was some doubt as to whether Balzaretti stopped it with his arm. Then on 10 minutes it was Julio Cesar who dropped low to the ground to stop a shot from Miccoli that came from a pass from Budan.
Palermo took the lead in the 17th minute when Miccoli’s corner passed through the Nerazzurri’s box untouched for Mantovani to side-foot in at the far post. But Inter had no plans to stand around and watch, and just five minutes later Maicon’s cross was helped on by Lucio for Milito to tuck away with his right, bringing the score to 1-1. Then Pazzini threatened twice: first with a header from Maicon’s cross, which Silvestre and Viviano combined on to clear, then when Zanetti’s cross was whipped into the box, only to see Pazzo miss it by a hair in the 41st minute. As the half came to an end Viviano and Balzaretti came to Palermo’s rescue when they barred the Rosanero’s goal to thwart a combination between Sneijder, Milito and Cambiasso, with El Cuchu attempting a tap-in from just in front of the goalmouth. After 1 minute of injury time the half ended at 1-1.
SECOND HALF –
The second half began with the same twenty-two players, but with a lovely goal from Miccoli who surged past Ranocchia to finish at the far post, beating Julio Cesar. But Milito was looking to respond again when, a minute later, he came very close to evening things out with a diagonal left-footer that finished wide, while Pazzini had already arrived in support of the Argentine. The ball wouldn’t go into the net until the 55th minute; after Poli sent Nagatomo through in the box the Japanese full-back was hauled down by Munoz and Guida did not hesitate to point to the spot. Milito stepped up and transformed the penalty with a right-footer to bring the score to 2-2. It was Inter again to break the deadlock and again a super Milito; in the 61st minute Lucio’s long ball was headed on by Cambiasso and El Principe, on the edge of offside, latched on to it to dribble past Viviano and complete his hat-trick. The 64th minute saw Palombo make his Inter debut (coming on for Poli), which was followed two minutes later by Palermo’s third goal, when their captain Miccoli scored on a bullet header from Balzaretti’s cross. But Inter v Palermo proved to be a constant surprise; a long pass from Palombo was controlled and then crossed into the box by Zanetti before Pazzini’s touch became an assist for Milito, who put Inter ahead with a score now at 4-3 (for his 12th goal of the season).
In the 73rd minute only the ref’s whistle could stop Milito when the Argentine’s header was ruled out after Maicon’s cross was judged to have gone over the byline. But Miccoli was on a roll and refusing to see his team lose this one; latching onto a pass from Ilicic, he sent his diagonal shot past Julio Cesar and inside the far post. It was 4-4. In the 87th minute Ranieri decided to send on Zarate in the place of Milito and the 4-goal hero received a warm standing ovation from the San Siro crowd. Miccoli saw his free kick go just over the bar after he was fouled by Obi on the edge of the box. Then after 3 minutes of injury time the match ended at 4-4. The Nerazzurri now sit with a total of 36 points in the standings.
Inter 4-4 Palermo (HT: 1-1)Scorers: Mantovani 17, Milito 22 (pen), 55, 61, 69, Miccoli 52, 66, 85.
Referee: Marco Guida (Torre Annunziata).Booked: Munoz 54, Obi 83.Added time: 1+3 minutes.Attendance: 18,320.
Lineups
Inter:
1 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio, 23 Ranocchia, 55 Nagatomo; 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso, 18 Poli (Palombo 64); 10 Sneijder (Obi 67); 7 Pazzini, 22 Milito (Zarate 87).Unused subs: 12 Castellazzi, 2 Cordoba, 26 Chivu, 30 Castaignos.Coach: Claudio Ranieri.
Palermo:
1 Viviano: 6 Munoz (Pisano 62), 2 Mantovani, 3 Silvestre, 42 Balzaretti; 23 Donati, 5 E. Barreto, 16 Zahavi (Ilicic 63); 14 Bertolo; 9 Budan (Vazquez 75), 10 Miccoli.Unused subs: 33 Tzorvas, 13 Aguirregaray, 17 Vazquez, 20 Acquah, 24 Mehmeti, 27 Ilicic.Coach: Bortolo Mutti.
