What a great win. Well desevered, although with a little bit of luck. We really needed this game to get our asses back into gear. Best thing that could've happened to us. A big match at this stage of the season, we needed this game to get sharp again. The match had some controversies again, but that was due to their being so much pressure on the refereeing and Paparesta trying to make up for the ruled-off Adriano goal.
The first half of the first half was definately for us, with us dominating their half and creating several goal chances. With two good goal scoring opportunities in as early as the 5th minute. We created several more dangerous scoring chances, unable to finish them off, that final ball was missing. Was on the edge of my seat for so many times throughout the game. I felt then that we really should've scored in those minutes, as we let Inter escape our dominance which led to Inter getting into the match and being the better team in the closing stages of the match. Inter's dominance leading to a great freekick position for inter after awarding inter a foul wrongly on Chiellini's sliding.
Adriano scored the freekick, but it was called off. The freekick should've been taken in two, due to Chiellini's foul being dangerous play. Chiellini's foul being dangerous play was kind of bullshit. Debatable decision to call the goal off, but what the hell it wasn't a foul by Chiellini in the first place.
The second half had pretty much everything a great game has, except for a red card not being given to Samuel. We started the second half, just like the first half having the better of the early play. The better chances were for Inter though who were getting more and more confident, only for us to smash their fragile hopes. A great first time Camorensi cross found Ibrahimovic at the far post who sidefooted the ball into the net. 1-0 ! Honestly, I thought we had won the game there. I did not think Inter would be able to get back into the match.
I was wrong, as Samuel scored the equaliser. The same Samuel, who I felt should've been send of moment before the equaliser, when he made a ridiculous assualt on Ibrahimovic. Paparesta, afraid of the newspapers, awared Samuel only a yellow card. So the score was 1-1 again, Inter was starting to push a little more though we did not give up by any means. Nedved fell, and we were awarded a freekick. Del Piero, in blood form, swept that freekick home. Juve led and now the game WAS over! Not even Recoba's freekick could penetrate us, luck was on our side as well. Inter uno, Juve due.
I was glad we played so well and that we were totally up for this match, no lacklustre or sloppy play today. No longballs and no complaceny. Well done. We could've done even better though, more of Mutu for example and not at the cost of Camoranesi.. More of Del Piero, he is too good to be a sub, how wonderful as a sub he may be. I just hope our players won't start to play complacently in the following matches, as a result of our comfortable 12 point lead.
Player ratings:
Buffon: He marshalled his defence well, and cleared a lot of crosses. Might've been able to do better at Samuel's header though. 6+
Balzaretti: Not his best match, worked hard though and pushed up the right flanks. Was sloppy and hasty at times. Better on the left. 6
Thuram: Man of the match, his presence his saving tackles and his interceptions. All great. Almost a perfect game. 8
Cannavaro: Great performance as well, had one mistake though. Normally the better of the two, but wasn't quite as exceptional als Thuram was today. Him and Thuram were the pillars of the team, that got us the victory today. Both him and Thuram had some many tackles and interceptions which saved us. 6.5
Chiellini: Great effort, but a little mistake and foul prone. 5.5
Emerson: Was instrumental in today's win as well. Great defensively and involved offensively. No mistakes. Such an asset he's been this season, especially in the big matches. 7
Vieira: Nothing special, but did his job. 6-
Camoranesi: Capello's favourite scapegoat at the moment it seems. Camoranesi had a good match. Some great crosses and created us several scoring oppurtunities. Hard working as well. Overdid his dribbles sometimes though and sloppy at times. Had the assist for our first goal as well. hate how he's being victimised by Capello so often, he's always the one being subbed nowadays. 6.5
Nedved: Hard work again, but his hard work alone is not enough. Javier Zanetti had him clamped down most of the time and Nedved's effectivity was limited. Nedved passed the ball well though and had a few nice moves. 5.5
Zlatan: Scored a good goal and was involved. Worked hard upfront, still ball hoggish though and sometimes his effectivity is limited. 6.5
Trezeguet: Nothing noteworthy done by him today. 5
Del Piero: Scored a grand goal and looks to be in tremendous shape. I want to see him start every game, he is way too good this season be a sub. 6.5