Hot Lazio inflicts more pain on Inter
Source: Agencies |
December 5, 2010, Sunday
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Print Edition
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LAZIO moved joint-top of the Italian Serie A with a 3-1 home win over Inter Milan on Friday which plunged the champion and coach Rafael Benitez into a fresh crisis after the worst of their problems seemed to have passed.
Giuseppe Biava bundled the ball home midway through the first half and Argentine forward Mauro Zarate struck with a lob early in the second period to show that the early season form of last term's relegation candidates was no false dawn.
The visitors pulled a goal back through former Lazio forward Goran Pandev after a couple of rebounds but in-form Brazilian Hernanes sealed victory in style with a minute remaining in Rome.
"It was the best Lazio of the season," playmaker Hernanes, who joined the club before the start of the campaign from Sao Paolo, told reporters.
"I've been trying for a bit to have a game like this with a goal and an assist. We're on the right path," added Hernanes who played the ball through for Zarate's goal.
Sixth-placed Inter, whose hopes of a sixth straight scudetto already look remote, could slip 10 points behind AC Milan after just 15 games if its city rival wins at home to promoted Brescia yesterday and retakes top spot outright.
Lazio and Milan are tied with 30 points each, Juventus and Napoli are next with 24 apiece.
A recent wobble by Lazio had pundits suggesting its resurgence was over but a confident performance against the treble winner will have tongues wagging again about whether Edy Reja's Rome-based side can last the pace in the title battle.
The match was Inter's last in Serie A this year ahead of its participation in the Club World Cup and the pressure is back on Benitez after wins against Twente Enschede and Parma had seemed to secure his position after a shaky spell.
Injury-hit Inter, which saw Dejan Stankovic limp off in the first half and was also without suspended top scorer Samuel Eto'o, played youth team defender Felice Natalino at right back while midfielder Sulley Muntari was back.
It again lacked fluency and the only bright spot was the previously struggling Pandev breaking his season's duck as the boos rang out around the half-full Stadio Olimpico.
Inter's dearth of attacking options without Eto'o and with Diego Milito only just back in training after injury means a move in the January transfer market for a striker is paramount. "We knew it would be a tough game before the World Club Cup and without our two best forwards but the team battled until the end," Benitez said.
Inter owner Massimo Moratti has said he is willing to delve into his pockets to avoid the European champion from sinking even further but has described reports of a bid for Sampdoria's banished striker Antonio Cassano as "fantasy football".
Italy forward Cassano could become a free agent if an arbitration panel, which was due to meet on Friday but will now convene this week, rules he breached his contract by verbally abusing the Sampdoria president.
Giuseppe Biava bundled the ball home midway through the first half and Argentine forward Mauro Zarate struck with a lob early in the second period to show that the early season form of last term's relegation candidates was no false dawn.
The visitors pulled a goal back through former Lazio forward Goran Pandev after a couple of rebounds but in-form Brazilian Hernanes sealed victory in style with a minute remaining in Rome.
"It was the best Lazio of the season," playmaker Hernanes, who joined the club before the start of the campaign from Sao Paolo, told reporters.
"I've been trying for a bit to have a game like this with a goal and an assist. We're on the right path," added Hernanes who played the ball through for Zarate's goal.
Sixth-placed Inter, whose hopes of a sixth straight scudetto already look remote, could slip 10 points behind AC Milan after just 15 games if its city rival wins at home to promoted Brescia yesterday and retakes top spot outright.
Lazio and Milan are tied with 30 points each, Juventus and Napoli are next with 24 apiece.
A recent wobble by Lazio had pundits suggesting its resurgence was over but a confident performance against the treble winner will have tongues wagging again about whether Edy Reja's Rome-based side can last the pace in the title battle.
The match was Inter's last in Serie A this year ahead of its participation in the Club World Cup and the pressure is back on Benitez after wins against Twente Enschede and Parma had seemed to secure his position after a shaky spell.
Injury-hit Inter, which saw Dejan Stankovic limp off in the first half and was also without suspended top scorer Samuel Eto'o, played youth team defender Felice Natalino at right back while midfielder Sulley Muntari was back.
It again lacked fluency and the only bright spot was the previously struggling Pandev breaking his season's duck as the boos rang out around the half-full Stadio Olimpico.
Inter's dearth of attacking options without Eto'o and with Diego Milito only just back in training after injury means a move in the January transfer market for a striker is paramount. "We knew it would be a tough game before the World Club Cup and without our two best forwards but the team battled until the end," Benitez said.
Inter owner Massimo Moratti has said he is willing to delve into his pockets to avoid the European champion from sinking even further but has described reports of a bid for Sampdoria's banished striker Antonio Cassano as "fantasy football".
Italy forward Cassano could become a free agent if an arbitration panel, which was due to meet on Friday but will now convene this week, rules he breached his contract by verbally abusing the Sampdoria president.
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