Hello Interfriends,
In the much anticipated match between Inter and Lazio the game ends in a 0-0 draw giving the two clubs share of the points and keeping the race for 4th spot undecided for this week. Inter and Lazio played a great match with Lazio having the upper hand in the first half, with Inter taking command in the second. In the end it was the goal posts and crossbar's that were hit instead of the netting by both teams making even the scoreless draw and exciting one.
After a week of turbulant media regarding Zac and star striker Vieri, the two meet on middle ground and its Vieri that starts along side Adriano up front. Stankovic took his spot along side Farinos in the midfield with Fontana making the start instead of injured Toldo in goal.
As I said at the start Lazio had the run of play in the first half but it was Inter who struck first as Stankovic takes a great long range effort with power but was unlucky as he beat Peruzzi but smacked the post with his effort. It seemed Inter were up for the match today but the midfield did not do well to contain Lazio. Farinos had a poor match today and the abscence of C.Zanetti in the midfield was felt. Albertini and Gianichedda won the midfield battle while J. Zanetti had his hands full with Fiore.
In the space of a few minutes Corradi was sent through in the 6 yard box and hits a cracker that beats Fontana but comes off the crossbar. The Inter defence did not learn its lesson and first Giannichedda tests Fontana at the near post but the keeper does well to get a hand to the low shot. Fiore then finds Lopez with a through ball that slices the defence. Cordoba gives chase and puts lopez off enough as his shot just skims the far post keeping the game 0-0.
The Lazio strikers saw a lot of the ball as Lazio as a team was playing short and quick football. Vieri and Adriano did not have the same luxury and were forced to back track to find balls leaving them yards to far from goal to make any real impact. Vieri does not seem up to full form but also had his hands full with Stam. The Dutch defender got the better of Vieri all match. Adriano is also isolated but his movement does get him more of the ball. At the half hour mark Adriano unleashes a hard curling shot destined for the top corner but somehow Peruzzi makes the great save.
Lazio may have had more of the ball but the sensation was that the game was wide open and with quality on both sides a goal could come from either team. It was not to be however and the half ends 0-0 with a post hit by each team and the keepers Fontana and Peruzzi making great saves to keep the game level.
The second half begins with Zac bringing on Emre for Farinos who did little in the first half except get a yellow card for a foul on Giannichedda. Zac then brings on Martins to add some pace up front taking off Vieri. The introduction of Emre was the turning point for Inter and the change brought speed, and quickness to the midfield that was lacking in the first half. With Emre's pressing, Inter come to life and take the upper hand as Zanetti leads by example tracking back to win a lost ball as he runs back 40 yards to make a tackle.
Emre and Stankovic both come close to scoring the go-ahead goal but there efforts went just wide. Zanetti gets in on the action from outside the area and shoots low and hard. Peruzzi makes the first save but the rebound comes loose for a second. Adriano tries to come in and score but Peruzzi recovered well keeping the game scoreless.
With Inter pressing hard for the lead, Lazio were left to play the counter attack game. One such rush almost resulted in a goal but Cordoba stops Fiore with a hand ball just outside the Inter area. Mihajlovic steps up to take the free kick and with a stunning shot beats Fontana on the far side but once again hits the crossbar.
It was the last real effort from either side and a point was shared by each team. Parma also tied making the race for 4th spot tight and unchanged as all 3 teams are separated by only 1 point with Inter having the slight edge. It was a good display by both teams and the tie in my view was a just result based on the display over the 90 minutes.
Eddy
In the much anticipated match between Inter and Lazio the game ends in a 0-0 draw giving the two clubs share of the points and keeping the race for 4th spot undecided for this week. Inter and Lazio played a great match with Lazio having the upper hand in the first half, with Inter taking command in the second. In the end it was the goal posts and crossbar's that were hit instead of the netting by both teams making even the scoreless draw and exciting one.
After a week of turbulant media regarding Zac and star striker Vieri, the two meet on middle ground and its Vieri that starts along side Adriano up front. Stankovic took his spot along side Farinos in the midfield with Fontana making the start instead of injured Toldo in goal.
As I said at the start Lazio had the run of play in the first half but it was Inter who struck first as Stankovic takes a great long range effort with power but was unlucky as he beat Peruzzi but smacked the post with his effort. It seemed Inter were up for the match today but the midfield did not do well to contain Lazio. Farinos had a poor match today and the abscence of C.Zanetti in the midfield was felt. Albertini and Gianichedda won the midfield battle while J. Zanetti had his hands full with Fiore.
In the space of a few minutes Corradi was sent through in the 6 yard box and hits a cracker that beats Fontana but comes off the crossbar. The Inter defence did not learn its lesson and first Giannichedda tests Fontana at the near post but the keeper does well to get a hand to the low shot. Fiore then finds Lopez with a through ball that slices the defence. Cordoba gives chase and puts lopez off enough as his shot just skims the far post keeping the game 0-0.
The Lazio strikers saw a lot of the ball as Lazio as a team was playing short and quick football. Vieri and Adriano did not have the same luxury and were forced to back track to find balls leaving them yards to far from goal to make any real impact. Vieri does not seem up to full form but also had his hands full with Stam. The Dutch defender got the better of Vieri all match. Adriano is also isolated but his movement does get him more of the ball. At the half hour mark Adriano unleashes a hard curling shot destined for the top corner but somehow Peruzzi makes the great save.
Lazio may have had more of the ball but the sensation was that the game was wide open and with quality on both sides a goal could come from either team. It was not to be however and the half ends 0-0 with a post hit by each team and the keepers Fontana and Peruzzi making great saves to keep the game level.
The second half begins with Zac bringing on Emre for Farinos who did little in the first half except get a yellow card for a foul on Giannichedda. Zac then brings on Martins to add some pace up front taking off Vieri. The introduction of Emre was the turning point for Inter and the change brought speed, and quickness to the midfield that was lacking in the first half. With Emre's pressing, Inter come to life and take the upper hand as Zanetti leads by example tracking back to win a lost ball as he runs back 40 yards to make a tackle.
Emre and Stankovic both come close to scoring the go-ahead goal but there efforts went just wide. Zanetti gets in on the action from outside the area and shoots low and hard. Peruzzi makes the first save but the rebound comes loose for a second. Adriano tries to come in and score but Peruzzi recovered well keeping the game scoreless.
With Inter pressing hard for the lead, Lazio were left to play the counter attack game. One such rush almost resulted in a goal but Cordoba stops Fiore with a hand ball just outside the Inter area. Mihajlovic steps up to take the free kick and with a stunning shot beats Fontana on the far side but once again hits the crossbar.
It was the last real effort from either side and a point was shared by each team. Parma also tied making the race for 4th spot tight and unchanged as all 3 teams are separated by only 1 point with Inter having the slight edge. It was a good display by both teams and the tie in my view was a just result based on the display over the 90 minutes.
Eddy
