Serie A: Novara 3-1 Inter, Minnows embarrass the mighty Inter

First of all I would like to congratulate Novara on their win, they by far deserved it more than Inter. As for the Nerazzurri, they were shocking, for the majority of the match Novara was running rings around them making the World Champions look like a Serie C side. On the bright side for us Interisti there is no way that Moratti can ignore the fans shouts for Gasperini to be given the boot. Instead of them improving and getting the 3+ goal win that everyone expected they again looked disorganised and lost on the pitch which handed Novara the best possible home start as they return to the Serie A after 55 years away from the top flight, as for Inter they now sit at the lowest position in the league that I can ever remember.If us Interisti had our way Gasperini would be dragged all the way back to Milano where he would be crucified then hung from the rafters of the Guiseppe Meazza as a warning to future coaches, but after the game Massimo Moratti seemed to be staying fairly calm despite his obvious anger as he was quoted as saying “Gasperini didn’t have control of the match? It really seems to me that he didn’t, but let’s sleep on it,” which I believe can be roughly translated as “Don’t worry by this time tomorrow he’ll be long gone!”

For those of you that missed the game here is how minnows Novara turned Inter into the laughing-stock of Europe.

FIRST HALF –

Despite all the recent criticism, Gasperini came in to this game using his controversial three-man defence yet again, this time dropping Walter Samuel in favour of Chivu who returned from injury alongside Lucio and Ranocchia in the back line. Up front he handed Dutch youngster Luc Castaignos his first full league debut as part of the three-pronged attack that also included Forlan and despite promising Pazzini a start he started the game with Milito on the pitch and ‘Pazzo’ on the bench again.

It took just 60 seconds for Novara to give the Nerazzurri a scare when ex Nerazzurri striker Meggiorini took advantage of a mistake by Chivu, his close range shot was saved by Julio Cesar’s face and the Inter keeper stayed down for a few minutes while he received treatment. The resulting corner brought another chance for the home side as Paci headed towards goal but Chivu made up for his earlier mistake by clearing the ball off the line. Just before the ten minute mark a play between Milito and Castiagnos ended with a right footed shot from Sneijder that was deflected behind for Inter’s first corner of the game. Five minutes later Rigoni set up Meggorini in front of goal, the forward showed great skill hitting a lovely volley that he was unlucky to see just skim past the outside of the post.

Shortly afterward Novara thought they should have been awarded a penalty when Julio Cesar collided with Mazzarini in mid-air, but the referee Bergonzi rightly judged that the Nerazzurri keeper was clearly going for the ball. Just after the 30 minute mark Forlan won a corner for the away side, which when taken was punched away by the Novara keeper Ujkani, though Inter should have received a penalty for Paci pulling on Ranocchia’s shirt in the box. Sneijder then took the initiative making a shot on goal which only managed to deflect off Paci into the keepers arms.

The opening goal came on the 38th minute when Mazzarani advanced down the left before sending it through to Meggiorini who fired it beautifully into the far corner of the net and so the first half ended with the minnows deservedly in front and in control.

SECOND HALF –

The second half brought a couple of changes for Gasperini’s side with Pazzini coming on for Forlan and Obi on in place of Castaignos which in turn changed the formation to a 3-5-2. Straight away Nagatomo went looking for an equalizer with a low drive that missed the target by a few inches. On the 53rd minute Inter were lucky not to go concede another goal when Mazzarani got clear of the Inter defence with Cambiasso in pursuit he shook off the Argentine before shooting straight at Julio Cesar’s legs.

Inter’s frustration was starting to show when in the 62nd minute Obi got booked for a foul on Mazzarani who broke on another Novara counter-attack. Then with less than 25 minutes left Gasperini made another one of his trademark baffling substitutions when he took off our key man Sneijder to replace him with Zarate, who it has to be said hasn’t performed anywhere near expectations so far this season.

The 71st minute saw Pazzini frustrated when his shot taken on the turn went over the bar with a deflection off a Novara player which mustn’t have been seen by Bergonzi as he awarded the home side with a goal kick despite Pazzini’s objections. Julio Cesar showed his cat-like reactions a minute later when he pushed Dellfiore’s stinging shot over the bar.

The bad luck continued for the Nerazzurri on the 76th minute when Cambiasso found Pazzini in space only for the Italian striker to drag his shot wide of the post. The last ten minutes turned to chaos for Inter as Ranocchia who had left the pitch with an ankle injury hobbled back on, as Gasperini had used all his substitutions, he then almost immediately took down Morimoto in the box earning himself a red card and giving Novara a penalty which they duly converted to make it 2-0 to the home side with Inter down to ten men.

Inter got a consolation goal through Cambiasso when a bad clearance in the Novara box landed in his path for him to slot home but things got worse for the visitors when almost straight after Giorgi took a shot which Julio Cesar managed to parry straight to Rigoni who was left to just tap the ball into the open net. After three minutes of injury time Bergonzi brought an end to what has to be the most embarrassing loss Inter has endured for a long time, leaving the Nerazzurri down towards the bottom of the table where Atalanta who had six points deducted at the start of the season could possibly overtake us in their next match.

Novara 3-1 Inter (HT: 1-0)Scorers: Meggiorini 38, Rigoni 86 (pen) and 89; Cambiasso.

Referee: Mauro Bergonzi (Genoa refereeing section)Booked: Chivu 28, Pazzini 60, Dellafiore 61, Obi 62, Lucio 84, Ranocchia 85.Added time: 1+3 minutes.

Lineups

Novara:

1 Ujkani; 15 Dellafiore, 24 Paci, 4 Lisuzzo, 3 Gemiti; 17 Porcari, 23 Radovanovic (Marianini 64), 10 Rigoni; 21 Mazzarani (Jeda 67); 11 Morimoto, 69 Meggiorini (Giorgi 62).Unsued subs: 31 Fontana, 5 Ludi, 14 Morganella, 20 Granoche.Coach: Attilio Tesser.

Inter:

1 Julio Cesar; 6 Lucio, 23 Ranocchia, 26 Chivu; 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso, 10 Sneijder (Zarate 67), 55 Nagatomo; 30 Castaignos (Obi 46), 22 Milito, 9 Forlan (Pazzini 46).Unused subs: 12 Castellazzi, 25 Samuel, 29 Coutinho, 42 Jonathan.Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.

The celebrations of captain Javier Zanetti becoming Inter’s highest appearing player of all time was seriously marred by the farce that was this match, on the plus side for us Interisti though, Gasperini must be fired now as in the interest of Inter’s season he cannot be allowed to stay and cause more damage to the club. Gian Piero Gasperini himself seems to be off in a world of his own as he seems totally oblivious to the fact that he will more than likely be out of a job by the end of today.

“This match was certainly a kick in the teeth, but I have to think of doing my job. I’m serious about my work, which has given me much satisfaction in the past, and now it is putting me to the test. But I have to work in order to resolve this situation.”

I think I speak for all Inter fans when I say that never mind the match being a kick in the teeth we would all happily line up to do that to him too!