SIENA 1-2 INTER: SCUDETTO!!!!
Sunday, 22 April 2007 16:50:00
MILAN - Inter win the 2006/07 Scudetto with a 2-1 victory over Siena as second-placed Roma went down by the same score against Atalanta.
Marco Materazzi gave Inter the lead, and scored again from the penalty spot after Negro's equaliser.
With 26 wins, 6 draws and just 1 defeat, Inter wrap up the Serie A title with five games to spare.
Only two teams have managed that feat in Serie A history: Torino in 1947/48 and Fiorentina in 1955/56.
Materazzi got Inter off to a perfect start at the Franchi, firing in his seventh of the season from a yard out in the 18th minute after Negro's goalline block from Maicon's initial shot.
But the home side levelled against the run of play when ex-Lazio defender Negro headed in Rinaudo's headed assist from Galloppa's left-wing cross.
Manninger saved two powerful headers from Ibrahimovic as the Nerazzurri looked to increase their lead before the break.
If Inter needed a half-time tonic, it came from the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia as the news arrived that Atalanta had taken a 2-0 lead against Roma.
Relegation-threatened Siena almost took the lead right after the interval, but Julio Cesar made a crucial one-footed save from Negro's backheeled shot.
Inter got the goal they needed on 61 minutes when Materazzi surpassed his self-declared target of seven goals. The World Cup winner sent Manninger the wrong way with a spot-kick that had to be taken twice.
But Siena, still looking for their first ever home win against the Nerazzurri, weren't giving up and Inter had Maicon to thank for a goalline block from Galloppa.
On a hat-trick, Materazzi went close to increasing Inter's advantage but his far-post header from Recoba's pin-point delivery finished wide of the woodwork.
Zanetti made a headed clearance from Negro's flicked header, and Antonini crashed wide from close range as Siena launched a late assault on the Inter goal, but the Nerazzurri held on for victory.
Scudetto! Scudetto number 15. A title that will inevitably be dedicated to the unforgettable Giacinto Facchetti, who died just five days before the start of the 2006/07 championship.
Siena 1-2 Inter (HT: 1-1)
Scorers: Materazzi 18, (pen) 61, Negro 21.
Siena: 1 Manninger; 2 Negro, 83 Rinaudo, 46 Gastaldello, 21 Rossi; 22 Alberto (7 Frick 66), 14 Galloppa (77 Antonini 76), 8 Vergassola, 23 Eremenko; 9 Corvia, 10 Chiesa (35 Cozza 80).
Subs not used: 18 Benussi, 5 Brevi, 6 Codrea, 38 Bartolucci.
Coach: Mario Beretta.
Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 2 Cordoba, 23 Materazzi, 16 Burdisso (6 Maxwell 51); 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso, 21 Solari (20 Recoba 62), 5 Stankovic; 8 Ibrahimovic (15 Dacourt 70), 9 Cruz.
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 11 Grosso, 77 Andreolli, 91 Mariano Gonzalez.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.
Referee: Nicola Ayroldi (Molfetta).
Booked: Burdisso 48, Manninger 58, Materazzi 62, Vergassola 86.