See what I did there? Feel free to use that in future Inter victories (sounds a bit better than “japanesey” or “lemon-squeezy”, no?). For there are few words more appropriate than “piece of cake” to define the Nerazzurri’s victory over Reggina Sunday. Juventus thought that by keeping the pressure on their rivals, Mourinho’s boys were going to slip up… eventually. Ibrahimovic thought otherwise.
Inter’s third goal, a marvelous left-footed chip over the keeper after a double dribble by Zlatan, epitomizes the ease and facility with which this team is playing domestically at the moment: one can only wonder how on Earth they could not translate Serie A domination into European success (especially with Man utd losing against teams like Fulham this past week-end). And the stats speak loud & clear: 10th match without a loss, 7th consecutive game ended with a +2 goal margin. Those who criticized Mourinho for non-spectacular playing style are keeping quiet.
Reggina on the other hand, and their hopes for avoiding relegation, are looking grim: Nevio Orlandi’s team has not managed to win since the end of November…
The task for the Nerazzurri was so easy for once, that Mourinho’s boys were ahead by two goals in a matter of 10 minutes. Esteban Cambiasso opened the score (receiving an assist from Stankovic just on the offside line), Zlatan Ibrahimovic made it two from 12 yards (after a Mancini slalomed through the Reggina box and was brought down by Valdez). 1-0 and 2-0 Inter. The rest of the first half was essentially a containment job for Julio Cesar, who had some great help by the Reggina strikers’ lack of accuracy.
Hoping to find the right setup for his team, just as he did in the “first leg” at the Granillo (the Amaranto had played much much better despite the match still ended with a 3-2 Inter victory), Reggina manager Nevio Orlandi threw in Brienza and Cozza in attack and added his young star Daniel Adejo (age 19). It a good move… somewhat, because Reggina started to be much more productive when they had ball possession. The missed chances in front of Julio Cesar’s net (courtesy of Barillà and Costa) are testament to that fact. Why did I say “somewhat” then? Defensively, the visitors were still a disaster. It was by pure miracle that the half didn’t end on 3-0 score, Ibrahimovic narrowly missing a goal by hitting the woodwork.
No problems for Zlatan though, because the tall Inter striker would make up for it in the second half. And how. Dribbling three Reggina players in succession, the Sweden international then lifted his head and fooled goalkeeper Puggioni with a delicate chipped shot just under the crossbar. Wonder-goal, 3-0 Inter and the capocannoniere lead for Zlatan (shared with Di Vaio at 19 goals). Inter pretty much slowed down the game after the third goal, leaving their stellar keeper in charge of neutralising Adejo (keep an eye on this guy), Barreto, Lanzaro, Brienza and Sestu’s attempts.
‘Nother three points in the bag. The only snag? The injuries sustained by Luis Jimenez and Amantino Mancini, just as they were trying to earn their spot back in the starting eleven…
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3-0 [Match Highlights] |
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| GOALSCORERS: 6’ Cambiasso (I), 10’ pen., 58’ Ibrahimovic (I) |
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| INTER (4-2-3-1): Julio Cesar – Maicon, Rivas, Cambiasso, Santon – J.Zanetti, Muntari – Balotelli, Stankovic (66’ Jiménez, 78’ Maxwell), Mançini (41′ Obinna) – Ibrahimovic. (bench: Toldo, Vieira, Cruz, Crespo). Coach: Mourinho |
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| REGGINA (3-5-2): Puggioni – Lanzaro, Valdez, Santos – Adejo (77’ Krajicik), Barreto, Carmona, Barillà (67’ Sestu), Costa – Cozza (74’ Ceravolo), Brienza. (bench: Marino, Cascione, Di Gennaro, Stuani). Coach: Orlandi. |
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Tags: Esteban Cambiasso, Inter, José Mourinho, Nevio Orlandi, Reggina, Serie A, Zlatan Ibrahimovic
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