Serie A - Inter draw thriller with Roma

Eurosport - Mon, 02 Mar 11:26:00 2009

Serie A leaders Internazionale came from two goals down to draw 3-3 against Roma in a thrilling encounter at the Giuseppe Meazza.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Serie A Inter-Roma Motta Balotelli - 0

Jose Mourinho's side trailed 2-0 and 3-1, but came back thanks to two second-half goals from young striker Mario Balotelli and a thumping Hernan Crespo header.

The win sees their lead at the top stand at seven points after second-placed Juventus won 1-0 against Napoli on Saturday.

Despite the exclusion of Roma skipper Francesco Totti and Inter talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic through injury, the game provided wonderful entertainment throughout.

After Julio Baptista went close twice in the early minutes, stand-in Roma captain Daniele De Rossi opened the scoring with a fine glancing header midway through the first half.

On 29 minutes, it was two, as John Arne Riise brought the ball inside from the left flank and squeezed it underneath Inter keeper Julio Cesar.

Mourinho acted quickly, bringing on Luis Figo and Patrick Vieira at half-time, and shortly afterwards they were thrown a lifeline when Balotelli won a penalty after a challenge by De Rossi.

He took the penalty himself, sending goalkeeper Doni the wrong way.

Before the hour mark, Roma restored their lead to two goals, as Baptista released Matteo Brighi through the middle and the defender finished low into the left corner.

Balotelli bagged his second six minutes later, collecting an Adriano pass across the penalty box and thumping inside the near post.

The drama continued as substitute Crespo, two minutes after coming off the bench, rose high to convert an inswinging Figo cross from the left.

Roma had chances to win it through Riise, De Rossi and Jeremy Menez but could not provide this spectacle with the grand finale it deserved.

Alex Chick / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 7 of 7

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  1. enough said about mourinho being a genius.hes only a­ genius when it comes to paying refs the way he did at­ porto in the 2003-04 season.the hand goal adriano­ scored vs ac milan and the balotellis dive for the­ penalty.the only reason inter win is cuz of the refs.

    From saeed, on Tue 3 Mar 12:35AM

  2. This game has proved why Inter has been so formidable­ in Seria A the last few seasons. It looked like they­ were going to lose but made an astonishing comeback.­ Proving that they are not an easy side to beat. Many­ Mancs might argue and say it was against Roma and­ we've beaten them very convincingly in the past but­ I really hope that SAF gets his tactics right in the­ game at OT because I don't see us having the same­ luck as last year against Barca by keeping a clean­ sheet. Inter will eventually score but our offense has­ to step up if we hope of progressing.

    From Dex Genius, on Mon 2 Mar 6:35AM

  3. did u watch inter vs roma? Mourinho is simply­ phenomenal. I consider him the best there is.

    From Aidee, on Mon 2 Mar 3:28AM

  4. did u watch inter vs roma? Mourinho is simply­ phenomenal. I consider him the best there is.

    From Aidee, on Mon 2 Mar 3:26AM

  5. ...And this is why Mourinho is the best! It is simple­ is it! He made the right changes at the half sending­ Figo and later Crespo and they made the difference!

    From joeldanaia, on Mon 2 Mar 12:00AM

  6. Man U are not scoring again so they will have to watch­ it. Cannot believe they cannot find the net with Giggs­ putting over some good crosses. Ronaldo wants to take­ all the free kicks or he will go home, wherever that­ is. Having said that Inter Milan were not very­ impressive at all, rather second rate I thought and I­ hope a high tempo game kills them off

    From taff, on Sun 1 Mar 10:29PM

  7. I hope Inter will be defensively as poor as today at­ Old Trafford, but something tells me that will not­ going to be happen. Hope ManU can score first in that­ CL game, othervise it will ruin this fabolous­ season.
    Camoon Devils, I know U can rediscover that­ goalscoring form.

    From Rene, on Sun 1 Mar 9:58PM
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