Inter didn't exactly kick-off the new Serie A season in spectacular fashion as we were held to a 2-2 draw at Verona. Inter took the lead after 16 minutes after a big mistake by Chievo's right-back Cesar, who tried to chest the ball down to Marchegiani but Stankovic took full advantage as he smashed it in the roof of the net to give Inter the lead against the run of play. Mihajlovic was a huge joke as he kept falling on the ground, and Materazzi was saving us for the whole time as he made a goal line clearance and many decisive interventions.
Inter started to look a tad better after the goal and ironically, against the run of play, Chievo scored their equalizer at the 28th minute through right winger Franco Semioli, who used his chest to score after an error by both Mihajlovic and Favalli, with the latter caught ball watching rather than keeping an eye on Semioli. Right before this goal, Vieri wasted the easiest of chances as he failed to convert a great pass from Adriano, with Marchegiani making one hell of a save to deny the Nerazzurri.
After only 9 minutes Chievo took the lead as a mistake by Capitano Zanetti in midfield gifted the flying donkeys their second goal. Once again, our defence was in shambles. In short, school boy defending at it's best. Sergio Pellissier scored the second goal.
Once again Vieri managed to miss an easy chance as he failed to head in from Ze Maria's perfect cross from the right. Bobo looked out of sorts for the whole game but apparently Mancini thought otherwise and kept him on the pitch for the entire game !
The first half ended 2-1 and i kept telling myself that we can come back only if our defence improves. Our midfield and attack had some fancy moves and "the new Inter" managed to become much more attractive.
The second half started, and WOW, what a start for us that was. Adriano unleashing a missile after Vieri set him up, and poor Marchegiani can only look at the ball in his net. 2-2 then !
In the 14th minute the post comes to our help as a good move by Chievo which started on the right flank ends up at left winger Daniele Franceschini who volleys the balls which rebounds off Toldo's left hand post.
Mihajlovic had a better second half but he only improved from "terrible" to become "poor." Amauri, who came on in the second half for goal-scorer Pellisier, dribbles past the Serb with ease but shoots wide. Then Chievo had another chance as Roberto Baronio tried to lob Toldo from almost 50 metres ! But luckily, his shot went inches wide.
Ze Maria, who had a good game for us on the right wing, gets injured in the 36th minute and in comes Recoba. Recoba didn't do anything and was played on the right wing ! I still can't understand why Mancini didn't move Stankovic to the right flank and use Il Chino on the left. Not only that, but he made his first substitution with only 9 minutes of normal time remaining !
The a minute later Cambiasso comes on for Davids who didn't impress much as he had too much defending to do and barely had the chance to attack as he had to cover Stankovic and Favalli.
So our opening game of the new season ends in a 2-2 scoreline, and in my humble opinion this is a point gained and not 2 lost for Inter. With the defence we had today, we're so lucky to escape from the Stadio Bentegodi with a sole point. Man of the match has to be Marco Materazzi, then Veron who had a pretty good game and even won some balls in the midfield !
With the likes of Cordoba, Burdisso and Gamarra back, we should do much better as our main problem tonight was the backline.
FORZA RAGAZZI !!!!!
Ahmed Hossam.
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Originally Posted by DM_
Materazzi World Champion
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