Inter stumble at Siena

ByEurosport

Published 08/01/2006 at 16:05 GMT

Adriano was a frustrated figure as Inter lost ground in the scudetto race as they were held to a goalless draw at Siena on Sunday. The nerazzurri failed to capitalise on overwhelming territorial domination leaving them ten points behind leaders Juventus.

Despite starting with Adriano and Obafemi Martins and the belated introductions of Alvaro Recoba and Julio Cruz, Roberto Mancini's side were woefully short of attacking inspiration.

Dejan Stankovic - a constant menace in the air - missed a handful of headed chances, before supplying Martins with an ideal centre which the spring-heeled Nigerian contrived to nod over the bar when totally unmarked.

Martins - playing his last game before joining Nigeria's African Nations Cup squad - felt aggrieved not to have been given a penalty with quarter of an hour remaining as he was tugged back by Igor Tudor in front of goal but saw his appeals waved away.

Serie A

Cagliari equalise twice to deny Inter Milan victory late on

14/04/2024 at 22:39

LIVORNO PUSH ON

Roberto Donadoni's Livorno side continued their unlikely bid for a Champions League finish with a cool 2-0 win over Sampdoria in Genoa.

Cristiano Lucarelli was the beneficiary of slack marking by the home side to head Livorno in front after only five minutes.

Francesco Flachi and Fabio Bazzani both saw headers saved by Marco Amelia, before Flachi ended all hopes of a Samp revival as he was given a second yellow card for a needless handball with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Lucarelli added a second deep in stoppage time with a thunderous shot to help his side close to within three points of fourth-placed Fiorentina.

DI CANIO INSPIRES LAZIO

Paolo di Canio put recent controversy behind him to produce a masterful display as he orchestrated a 4-1 dismissal of Ascoli at the Olimpico.

Shown on Italian TV embracing DR Congo-born team-mate Gaby Mudingayi prior to kick-off, a nice touch in the wake of his ban for a fascist salute, Di Canio was untenable from kick-off.

But the well-travelled striker had to haul his side back from a goal down after Roberto Guana had crashed a shot past Angelo Peruzzi to give Ascoli a 14th-minute lead.

Di Canio levelled just before the half hour after linking neatly with Tommaso Rocchi and Goran Pandev to pass the ball round a static Ascoli rearguard before lunging to volley home from close range.

FOOTBALL 2005-2006 Serie A Lazio Di Canio

Image credit: Reuters

Mudingayi then bundled Lazio into the lead after the half hour before finding a telling pass for Rocchi to serve Pandev to head a third with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Sub Igli Tare rounded off the win with a superb overhead kick ten minutes from full-time to lift Delio Rossi's side into eighth.

Elsewhere, Chievo cemented sixth spot with a 3-1 win over Lecce - Sergio Pellissier scoring twice - while Alberto Aquilani's first-half goal was enough to give Roma a 1-0 win at bottom side Treviso and lift the giallorossi into seventh.

Udinese slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Cagliari with Antonio Langella snatching the Sardinians a win four minutes from time, while Zlatan Muslimovic found the net twice to help Messina to a 3-1 win at Empoli.

Serie A

Inter dig out late winner to down luckless Udinese as title edges nearer

08/04/2024 at 22:23

Serie A

Exclusive: Thauvin on re-finding the magic, grudges and surviving tough times

08/04/2024 at 10:00

Serie A

Inter claim comfortable win over Empoli to edge closer to league title

01/04/2024 at 21:04