Serie A - Inter edge out Milan in derby thriller

Eurosport - Mon, 16 Feb 07:08:00 2009

David Beckham was unable to stop Internazionale running out 2-1 winners against his AC Milan side in the city derby at the Giuseppe Meazza.

FOOTBALL-Serie A 2008/09-IntervsMilan/Adriano - 0

Goals by Adriano and Dejan Stankovic put Inter two up in the first half and Jose Mourinho's side looked to be cruising to all three points before Alexandre Pato's 71st minute strike pulled one back for Milan and ensured a nervy final 20 minutes for the Nerazzurri.

The result saw the reigning champions take a huge step towards reclaiming their title after opening up a nine-point advantage over their nearest rivals Juventus, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Sampdoria earlier in the day.

Milan remain in third but the defeat dealt their Scudetto hopes a major blow - the Rossoneri now trail their city rivals by 11 points.

Loanee Beckham said after the game that a return to club LA Galaxy, which looks likely after the passing of a Major League Soccer transfer deadline, would "be a bit difficult".

Despite the hype prior to kick-off, Beckham had a minimal impact on the game and the former England captain was substituted on 58 minutes, although his withdrawal appeared enforced by a hamstring injury.

The other subject of pre-match excitement, Paolo Maldini, defied his 40 years to play an integral part in what was his last Milan derby, even though his defence was breached twice before the end of the opening period.

Inter stormed out of the blocks and Zlatan Ibrahimovic was presented with a great chance to open the scoring inside the first minute when Esteban Cambiasso's free-kick found him unmarked six yards out. But the erratic Swede, who is just as capable of infuriating as he is of astounding, misjudged the flight of the ball and headed over the bar.

But his profligacy in front of goal was overshadowed by a far worse miss by Stankovic 18 minutes later. Cambiasso was again the architect, sliding the ball across to the Serb who inexplicably took a touch when a first-time shot was all that was required. The delay allowed Massimo Ambrosini to get back and make a crucial intervention and the chance went begging.

Stankovic was to make amends soon enough, but not before Adriano broke the deadlock on 29 minutes, albeit under controversial circumstances.

The Brazilian appeared to handle the ball as he bundled it over the line from Maicon's wickedly teasing cross, but the referee's whistle sounded only for a goal and not for the infringement Milan keeper Christian Abbiati was screaming for.

Fourteen minutes later and Inter had doubled their lead, Stankovic putting his earlier hesitation well behind him to fire home first-time from Ibrahimovic's knock down.

Two-nil down and Milan had a mountain to climb to get back into the game, one that nearly became much steeper soon after the break when a slip from Kakha Kaladze let in Adriano, only for the Brazilian to send his shot wide of the mark.

Adriano turned creator moments later, playing in Ibrahimovic who was denied by a fine fingertip save by Abbiati.

Inter were in complete control of the game and seemingly set for a comfortable victory but once Pato had latched on to Marek Jankulovski's cut-back from the by-line and found the back of the net, the complexion of the game altered dramatically.

Gone was the previous swagger of the home side while Milan were rejuvenated and poured forward in search of an equaliser as the half progressed.

The introduction of Filippo Inzaghi for Beckham presented Inter with a real headache, the veteran striker posing a constant threat with his penchant for hanging off the last defender and his predatory instincts.

The 35-year-old thought he had scored on 78 minutes, only to see his rocket into the roof of the net chalked off for offside, and he went close again with a header with eight minutes remaining.

In between those chances, Pato brought a save from Julio Cesar with a low strike but the final chance of the game fell to Inzaghi as the closing stages of the match began to resemble a siege on the Inter goal.

Cesar came to Inter's rescue again however, and Inter held on to close in on a fourth Scudetto success - and claim bragging rights in Milan at least until next season.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 29 - 48 of 48

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  1. Ronaldinho the best passer of the ball in the whole­ world

    From Toluwanimi, on Thu 19 Feb 8:42PM

  2. mourinho, shut up your ugly mouth.
    your are not­ best.
    If you think, you are best...
    you will lose­ everything.
    You are not good, really is your are good­ players.
    lee pel

    From simplephochan, on Thu 19 Feb 11:47AM

  3. This was a most entertainiing match with the Brazilians­ on both sides putting on a show.

    It was the best match­ that I have seen Ronaldinho play in a long while. His­ passing, especially the through ball, was magnificent.­ He teamed up brilliantly with Pato. Pato has all of the­ makings to be the next Brazilian superstar. He has­ skill, pace and strength and can shoot off both feet.­ Amazing to know that he's not yet 20 yrs.­ Definitely a world player of the year in the­ future.

    But it was the Brazilians on the Inter side­ that deserve most praise. Adriano was a workhorse­ throughout the game, running hard at the defenders and­ looking good. Maicon had an exceptional game and­ enhanced his reputation as arguably the best right back­ in the game. His skills for a defender is absolutely­ amazing. And he has a lot of pace and physical­ presence.

    Then there is Julio Ceasar. For sometime­ he's been one of the best goalkeepers in the world­ and this match showed that. His reflexes, anticipation­ and movement was world class and Inter owe a lot to him­ for coming out winners.

    Great match for football­ purists.

    From Michael, on Tue 17 Feb 4:19PM

  4. inter beat a team of senior citizens and now they think­ they have a chance against man unitde, what a joke

    From mathewdionyssiou, on Tue 17 Feb 5:17AM

  5. la_carlamms.... how can you say Inter played boring­ tactics???.... they were a joy to watch!!!..... they­ could and should have put milan to the sword by half­ time!....c'e solo una squadra in Milano..... INTER.

    From Chris W, on Mon 16 Feb 7:36PM

  6. well it was a good game i am a milan fan the ref wasnt­ good there was a call for a penalty in the 1st half by­ dinho but not strong enough... and the handball come on­ .... well the defense was bad by milan and they were­ all attack while inter played more defensive counter­ and finding more spaces in the back of the aging­ defence.... i like how milan is playing now the style­ is great and forget about beckham we dont need an aging­ has been... get a good defender and thats it...­ congrats for inter and we'll get em next season­ rosonerros

    From F2R, on Mon 16 Feb 6:01PM

  7. Everyone accepts that Inter deserved to win.Inter is­ now flying in the clouds.No team can stop Inter.Even­ MAN U ,king of 1-0!!

    From mehdi A, on Mon 16 Feb 4:04PM

  8. and to think people are still not happy with jose­ because all they want is the champions league well this­ is all i gotta say ur in first place in your league and­ u have a very good chance to beat those cheaters united­ good luck

    From Alex Z, on Mon 16 Feb 2:44PM

  9. Donneysbeck you are a legend man, though I have never­ known BBC 3 to put on football matches. You sure it was­ not on Channel 5 as usual? Milan are rebuilding and it­ would take another 2 years when Peto will be 23 and­ Kaka 28. Then they will be king again.

    From SANCHEZ, on Mon 16 Feb 12:59PM

  10. Ronaldinho truely prove dat he is d best player in d­ world,dinho played a role dat even kaka an pato cannot­ play.Without dinho milan are nothing i believe he is­ going to be d best player in d world again. Frm chris

    From ifeanyiogbor, on Mon 16 Feb 12:22PM

  11. I thought Seria A was dead, but proved wrong by the­ milan derby. Highly entertaining game. And MOURINHO­ still master in getting results although he can be­ outplayed.

    From luke, on Mon 16 Feb 12:07PM

  12. i think it was an exciting game...so many chances for­ both sides...can't wait to watch inter taking on­ man utd next week...

    From Abby, on Mon 16 Feb 10:04AM

  13. INTER INTER INTER INTER FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS THE­ LEAGUE TITLE WILL STAY AT SAN SIRO INTER INTERINTER

    From p_liviu_89_24, on Mon 16 Feb 9:23AM

  14. Thriller? What thriller? It was a typical Italian­ affair, the Mourinho style: boring and negative­ encounter.The over the hill gang of AC Milan ran out of­ steam and ideas.No thanks !!

    From Tim, on Mon 16 Feb 9:07AM

  15. ha ha ha. ''David Beckham was unable to stop­ Internazionale running out 2-1 winners against his AC­ Milan side''. Who the @#$% is Bechkam? ha ha­ ha.

    From Half A Brain, on Mon 16 Feb 5:31AM

  16. GO INTER! GO JOSE! INTER FAN FOR LIFE!

    HENDRO @­ AUSTRALIA!!

    From Andrew 'Intermilan 4 life!', on Mon 16 Feb 4:22AM

  17. I am an Inter fan and lets be honest,it was handball­ but the ref was too far and it was hard too­ see....still it is a deserved victory for inter.They­ had more and better chances and Milan can be happy it­ didnt end worse for them with 4-5 goals for­ inter....Abbiati saved them and they can be­ happy.......there was no penalty on (someone looks at­ me i fall) Inzaghi......FORZA INTER!!!!!!!!

    From denishasanovic, on Mon 16 Feb 2:38AM

  18. This is not another calciopoli, this is Italy! And it­ sounds Inter vs Beckham according to this headline­ !!!
    Now that Milan is out of the running I would be­ surprised if they pay huge fee to keep 33year old­ Beckhqm in Milan!

    From Morituri, on Mon 16 Feb 2:24AM

  19. milan must change the coach/manager...!!and they must­ give chance for their new player like Flamini,­ Antonini, Darmian, etc to play.

    From Anom, on Mon 16 Feb 2:10AM

  20. Milan is having the season that Barca suffer last term.­ Ronaldinho-Eto'o-Messi-Henry just not working as­ everybody thought at early season. Now Milan with­ Ronaldinho-Pato n even with fit Kaka they just not­ clicking like they did with Brazil, even not working­ with primadonna Beckham at their disposal.. ya Kaka­ didnt play this game, but throu-out the season, Milan­ seem struggling to keep pace with league leader.­ eventhou, I hope Milan will qualify for UCL spot for­ next season.
    as for Inter, what can i say.. they were­ just playing typical boring Mourinho tactical.. it­ worked b4 n it shall work in serie A (not that they are­ superior but others are struggling), BUT it wont work­ at Europe..!

    From carlamms, on Mon 16 Feb 12:52AM
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