[IT] Serie A 2005/06 (11 Viewers)

Maher

Juventuz addict
Dec 16, 2002
13,521
#42
Adriano magic mauls Roma Sunday 12 June, 2005

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Roma played some wonderful football, but two moments of sheer magic from Adriano have given Inter a 2-0 first leg lead in the Coppa Italia Final.

This is the last chance for both sides to earn some silverware and there was another aspect to the Stadio Olimpico setting, as so many members of the Inter squad – including Coach Roberto Mancini – had played in the Rome derby with Lazio.


The Giallorossi were not pulling their punches, as within 24 seconds Francesco Totti had set up Antonio Cassano and goalkeeper Francesco Toldo was forced to save with an outstretched foot.


Inter also pushed forward when Adriano hit the back of the net with a header, but Pierluigi Collina disallowed the goal for a push on Matteo Ferrari.


Totti and Cassano again combined brilliantly moments later on the counter-attack, but this time the ex-Bari starlet’s finish thumped the base of the upright with Toldo beaten.


Giuseppe Favalli nearly scored an own goal when his flicked on header almost redirected a corner kick into the net, then Toldo got down well to block Cristian Chivu’s drive.


A spectacular Cassano overhead kick on Totti’s chested assist was captured by the Inter goalkeeper, though an offside flag also stopped the move as the two Italian internationals were on stunning form.


Sinisa Mihajlovic curled one of his trademark free kicks inches past the post and Toldo firmly held a Chivu set-piece in an extremely entertaining encounter.


However, despite all the pressure, it took a moment of sheer magic from Adriano to open the scoring in Inter’s favour. The Brazilian took Gianluca Curci by surprise when he unleashed a missile from all of 40 metres that the goalkeeper could only get a fingertip to. L’Imperatore was not set to feature in this Final, but he flew home from international duty and immediately made his mark.


Ferrari had already been booked and was fortunate to remain on the field soon after, as he clearly dragged Obafemi Martins back by his jersey, but Collina was lenient.


The Nerazzurri all but put the Coppa Italia in their trophy cabinet on the stroke of half-time, as Adriano got in front of Ferrari for a powerful header on Ze Maria’s free kick from the right.


In the second half Ferrari was again extremely lucky to avoid a second bookable offence for body-checking Martins and Roma threw on Vincenzo Montella for the trident attack. Within minutes he’d brought a save out of Toldo and Totti complained of Giuseppe Favalli’s handling offence as his cross was deflected, but it was clearly an unintentional contact.


There was further controversy moments later when Montella tapped in Mancini’s deflected shot, but the goal was disallowed for a debatable offside decision.


Roma were livelier in the closing half-hour and Cassano battled his way through defenders only to see Toldo smother his shot. Mancini was forced to limp off with an injury and made way for youth team player Greco, so he is a doubt for Wednesday’s second leg.


Roma were very unlucky in the closing stages when Cassano sprung the offside trap to flick on Perrotta’s cross and Toldo took the sting out of it with his palms. Moments later Montella again tested the goalkeeper’s reflexes, as Inter’s defence lost its focus.


It will take nothing short of a miracle for Bruno Conti to turn this result around at the San Siro on Wednesday evening, as Inter look set for their first Coppa Italia trophy since 1982.





Roma 0-2 Inter


Scorers: Adriano 30, 36 (I)


Roma: Curci; Panucci, Ferrari, Chivu, Cufre (Scurto 79); Mancini (Greco 72), Dacourt, Perrotta, Virga (Montella 57); Totti, Cassano


Inter: Toldo; J Zanetti, Materazzi, Mihajlovic, Favalli; Ze Maria, Cambiasso, Stankovic, Kily Gonzalez (van der Meyde 84); Martins (Cruz 75), Adriano
 

Len

Senior Member
Feb 13, 2004
4,972
#44
It will be pretty good for Italian football if a team like Sampdoria, Lazio, Fiorentina or Palermo was to win this year...
 
OP
gray

gray

Senior Member
Moderator
Apr 22, 2003
30,260
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread Starter #45
    ++ [ originally posted by Len ] ++
    It will be pretty good for Italian football if a team like Sampdoria, Lazio, Fiorentina or Palermo was to win this year...
    Nah, I'd prefer Juve :)
     

    Nicole

    Senior Member
    Sep 16, 2004
    7,561
    #52
    Prediction, Roma 3 - 0 Inter - Coppa Italia 2nd leg final!

    Totti to score 2, and Cassano to get the other one

    FORZA GIALLOROSSI!!!
     

    Maher

    Juventuz addict
    Dec 16, 2002
    13,521
    #56
    Inter ‘agree’ Samuel loan Tuesday 14 June, 2005

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    Inter have reportedly agreed a deal with Real Madrid for the season-long loan of defender Walter Samuel.

    The Argentine stopper has been linked with the outfit recently and sources in Milan insist that he will arrive over the summer.

    The Italian side are looking for a new central defender and he’s set to come in on loan, with an option to buy outright in 2006 for £16m.

    Real have agreed to the move, as they are keen to free up a non-EU place in their squad to accommodate the arrival of Brazilian starlet Robinho.

    The Spanish giants are also ready to show Samuel the door after a difficult first season in Madrid following his switch from Roma.

    However, there are still problems to be resolved as Samuel will need convincing of the switch.

    Inter are also keen to get him to lower his salary, which currently stands at a massive £3.6m-a-season.

    Inter transfer chief Marco Branca could fly to Germany over the next few days to meet the player, who is on international duty with his country in the Confederations’ Cup.

    The club are also hoping that his Argentine colleagues Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso can help tempt him to the San Siro.

    Samuel, should he sign for Inter, will be joined by Real teammate Santiago Solari in the new campaign.

    A £3m fee has reportedly been agreed for the Argentine winger whose arrival will be confirmed after the Coppa Italia Final.
     

    ZhiXin

    Senior Member
    Oct 1, 2004
    10,321
    #57
    Viola interest pleases Iaquinta Tuesday 14 June, 2005

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    Udinese striker Vincenzo Iaquinta has admitted that he would accept a summer switch to Fiorentina.

    The Tuscan giants are interested in the Italian international and a move could be completed in the near future.

    "I’m very enthusiastic about the Viola’s interest in me," the striker told the Corriere dello Sport newspaper.

    "I know that the club have wanted me in the past so I hope that this is the right time to reach an agreement."

    Fiorentina struggled badly this season but the forward is ready to turn his back on Udinese’s Champions’ League adventure to move south.

    "Fiorentina are a great club and I consider them to be on a par with the big Serie A teams," added the former Under-21 man. "They have a great fan base too."

    Udinese goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis has also been associated with a switch to the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

    However, the former Juventus shot-stopper isn’t as keen on a transfer as his teammate.

    "Fiorentina could be a very interesting solution but I would honesty rather stay at Udinese," he stated.

    source: channel4.com
     

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