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What a night!! The match certainly paid off the 5€ I paid to see this match live on the internet. Thanks million times Globalsport!!
The match started off very slowly and both sides were unable to create any true chances. Our strikers were a bit isolated, though Karagounis was trying to help them but he saved the magic at that time. We had the ball, but had only a few crappy balls played to Vieri, who seemed once again a bit frustrated.
Zahovic had the first real chance, but he totally blew it from the edge of the box. I really don't understand how he got the chance in the first place. Looks like Cordoba-Adani-Gamarra line is too vulnerable and opens up easily, though Lamouchi's invisibility on the pitch didn't help much. Vieri also had a great chance on the right when he ran down to the box, but a defender pushed him heavily to the back, still Bobo managed to try a lob past goalkeeper, but he parried the shot with his head. It just came to my mind, that if Vieri had dived like Owen (or someone), we could've gotten a penalty.
Finally 5 minutes after half hour mark Nuno Gomes shot a pinpoint accurate ball past Toldo to the inside of the post and it went in. We still didn't wake up enought and after a minute or so Gomes had yet another billion dollar chance from 45 meters, gladly he turned the ball inches wide of the left post.
It was finally time for Inter to wake up. Martins managed to stay up against a defenders and shot the ball through goalkeepers feet into the net. But the blind referee ruined the party and disallowed the goal, because in his opinion VIeri had hit Rocha with his elbow, when actually the replays showed that there wasn't any actual contact. But in time added on, Inter finally made it. Karagounis' brilliant solo on the left was the key. He dribbled past two defenders and goalkeeper, then passed to Oba, who had the easiest job tap-in from one meter. The first half was over and Inter was back in the game.
No changes for second half, though I waited for once again disappointing Lamouchi to come off. Inter started with the ball, but again were unable to create any true chances. With more possession we finally looked more confidence and Karagounis as our dynamo we actually looked decent. The at the one hour mark Zac finally introduced Recoba, who proved to be the magician of the evening. Okan went off. Just after a minute on the field Zanetti passed the ball to Vieri, but Bobo dummied the ball and let it go through to Recoba to the edge of the box from where the Uruguayan shot a perfect left footer to the bottom right corner. It was 2-1 and the sky looked a bit clearer.
The striking force of Vieri-Recoba-Martins turned out to be the decisive thing in the match. They combined brilliantly with eachother and 5 minutes after Chino's goal Martins passed the ball to Recoba to the right flank, Chino passed a perfect ball over the field straight to the left side of the box where Vieri chested down the ball perfectly and shot a thunderous ball into the roof of the net. A beautiful goal indeed. Perfect display, I almost wetted my pants.
But as usual that wasn't all. Inter always want to go the hard way and after a couple of minutes we let Nuno Gomes score an easy goal, when Adani was hours late in front of the goal. But that's not all... The joyful play of our three strikers paid off and another perfect display gave us 4-2 lead. Martins digged the ball in midfield and passed to Vieri, who turned and then passed an inch perfect pass to the left straight to Chino's feet, who was in full speed, then another perfect ball from Chino to right, where Martins had again the easiest chance to score. FAAAAAANNNNNNNNTTTTTTTAAAAAASSSSSSTTTTTIIIIIIICCCCCCC!!!
Still after 4 goals Inter wanted to get my heart condition worse (which will lead to my grave in young age) and a sloppy pressing combined with even sloppier defending let Tiago score 4-3. It was a beatuful goal and again to the bottom right corner. I simply have to say that after Karagounis was subbed out, Chino should've defended more, but he opted just to stand and watch. Yet still 15 minutes to go it looked like the match was never gonna end. Inter entered earlier Brechet and in the end Almeyda got to play for a few minutes too. So it was just sitting back and hoping that Benfica won't score. Luckily we managed to keep the ball away from our net, though Benfica had a couple of very dangerous opportunities. In time added on Vieri also had a good chance but he shot just over the bar. After 4 minutes of injury time, referee finally blowed the whistle and we were through to quarter finals.
A good match from our strikers, but our defensive midfielders and defenders could've done better. IMO Vieri-Recoba-Martins is simply a perfect strikerforce, they have it all: Chino's vision, Vieri's force and Oba's pace. I don't know where we need anyone else.
Ratings:
Toldo 6 - In the best day could've prevented at least one goal.
Cordoba 6 - Pretty good, our best defender, another booking for him
Adani 5 - Was late too many times and looked lost for some reason
Gamarra 5.5 - I've seen better matches from him, was in trouble many times
Okan 6 - Made good runs and passes, fought hard, though couldn't keep his temper down and got a booking
J. Zanetti 6.5 - A couple of good "trademark" runs and saved the day in our own half
Lamouchi 4 - Totally invisible, useless, no point to let him play
Kily 6 - A few good runs on the left flank, still lacks in good passes and shots
Karagounis 7.5 - Our primus motor, it's nice to see a player who really can keep the ball and make good passes, he's a fighter, Kara was all over the pitch and the solo which lead to the equalizer was simply fantastic
Martins 8 - Grande Oba, his pace was way too much for the defenders, he didn't dive all the time, but really ran with the ball, amde excellent and accurate passes, what's most important scored 2 (actually 3) goals. Forza Oba!!
Vieri 7.5 - After Recoba came on Bobo really found his motivation, combined excellently with Oba and Chino
Recoba 8.5 - Played 35 minutes and scored a goal and passed two. When he's in this kind of form he could be considered as the best player in the world. He just dances with the ball and the run with the ball with ease. I'm speechless.
Brechet 5.5 - Hazard-Jeremie made actually one good play when he took the ball from a Benfica player in the right flank. Other than that I still don't believe in this guy
Almeyda - Played too little to get a rating.
The match started off very slowly and both sides were unable to create any true chances. Our strikers were a bit isolated, though Karagounis was trying to help them but he saved the magic at that time. We had the ball, but had only a few crappy balls played to Vieri, who seemed once again a bit frustrated.
Zahovic had the first real chance, but he totally blew it from the edge of the box. I really don't understand how he got the chance in the first place. Looks like Cordoba-Adani-Gamarra line is too vulnerable and opens up easily, though Lamouchi's invisibility on the pitch didn't help much. Vieri also had a great chance on the right when he ran down to the box, but a defender pushed him heavily to the back, still Bobo managed to try a lob past goalkeeper, but he parried the shot with his head. It just came to my mind, that if Vieri had dived like Owen (or someone), we could've gotten a penalty.
Finally 5 minutes after half hour mark Nuno Gomes shot a pinpoint accurate ball past Toldo to the inside of the post and it went in. We still didn't wake up enought and after a minute or so Gomes had yet another billion dollar chance from 45 meters, gladly he turned the ball inches wide of the left post.
It was finally time for Inter to wake up. Martins managed to stay up against a defenders and shot the ball through goalkeepers feet into the net. But the blind referee ruined the party and disallowed the goal, because in his opinion VIeri had hit Rocha with his elbow, when actually the replays showed that there wasn't any actual contact. But in time added on, Inter finally made it. Karagounis' brilliant solo on the left was the key. He dribbled past two defenders and goalkeeper, then passed to Oba, who had the easiest job tap-in from one meter. The first half was over and Inter was back in the game.
No changes for second half, though I waited for once again disappointing Lamouchi to come off. Inter started with the ball, but again were unable to create any true chances. With more possession we finally looked more confidence and Karagounis as our dynamo we actually looked decent. The at the one hour mark Zac finally introduced Recoba, who proved to be the magician of the evening. Okan went off. Just after a minute on the field Zanetti passed the ball to Vieri, but Bobo dummied the ball and let it go through to Recoba to the edge of the box from where the Uruguayan shot a perfect left footer to the bottom right corner. It was 2-1 and the sky looked a bit clearer.
The striking force of Vieri-Recoba-Martins turned out to be the decisive thing in the match. They combined brilliantly with eachother and 5 minutes after Chino's goal Martins passed the ball to Recoba to the right flank, Chino passed a perfect ball over the field straight to the left side of the box where Vieri chested down the ball perfectly and shot a thunderous ball into the roof of the net. A beautiful goal indeed. Perfect display, I almost wetted my pants.
But as usual that wasn't all. Inter always want to go the hard way and after a couple of minutes we let Nuno Gomes score an easy goal, when Adani was hours late in front of the goal. But that's not all... The joyful play of our three strikers paid off and another perfect display gave us 4-2 lead. Martins digged the ball in midfield and passed to Vieri, who turned and then passed an inch perfect pass to the left straight to Chino's feet, who was in full speed, then another perfect ball from Chino to right, where Martins had again the easiest chance to score. FAAAAAANNNNNNNNTTTTTTTAAAAAASSSSSSTTTTTIIIIIIICCCCCCC!!!
Still after 4 goals Inter wanted to get my heart condition worse (which will lead to my grave in young age) and a sloppy pressing combined with even sloppier defending let Tiago score 4-3. It was a beatuful goal and again to the bottom right corner. I simply have to say that after Karagounis was subbed out, Chino should've defended more, but he opted just to stand and watch. Yet still 15 minutes to go it looked like the match was never gonna end. Inter entered earlier Brechet and in the end Almeyda got to play for a few minutes too. So it was just sitting back and hoping that Benfica won't score. Luckily we managed to keep the ball away from our net, though Benfica had a couple of very dangerous opportunities. In time added on Vieri also had a good chance but he shot just over the bar. After 4 minutes of injury time, referee finally blowed the whistle and we were through to quarter finals.
A good match from our strikers, but our defensive midfielders and defenders could've done better. IMO Vieri-Recoba-Martins is simply a perfect strikerforce, they have it all: Chino's vision, Vieri's force and Oba's pace. I don't know where we need anyone else.
Ratings:
Toldo 6 - In the best day could've prevented at least one goal.
Cordoba 6 - Pretty good, our best defender, another booking for him
Adani 5 - Was late too many times and looked lost for some reason
Gamarra 5.5 - I've seen better matches from him, was in trouble many times
Okan 6 - Made good runs and passes, fought hard, though couldn't keep his temper down and got a booking
J. Zanetti 6.5 - A couple of good "trademark" runs and saved the day in our own half
Lamouchi 4 - Totally invisible, useless, no point to let him play
Kily 6 - A few good runs on the left flank, still lacks in good passes and shots
Karagounis 7.5 - Our primus motor, it's nice to see a player who really can keep the ball and make good passes, he's a fighter, Kara was all over the pitch and the solo which lead to the equalizer was simply fantastic
Martins 8 - Grande Oba, his pace was way too much for the defenders, he didn't dive all the time, but really ran with the ball, amde excellent and accurate passes, what's most important scored 2 (actually 3) goals. Forza Oba!!
Vieri 7.5 - After Recoba came on Bobo really found his motivation, combined excellently with Oba and Chino
Recoba 8.5 - Played 35 minutes and scored a goal and passed two. When he's in this kind of form he could be considered as the best player in the world. He just dances with the ball and the run with the ball with ease. I'm speechless.
Brechet 5.5 - Hazard-Jeremie made actually one good play when he took the ball from a Benfica player in the right flank. Other than that I still don't believe in this guy
Almeyda - Played too little to get a rating.
