INTER 2-0 PARMA: MAXWELL, CRESPO
Sunday, 01 April 2007 17:03:21
MILAN – Maxwell and Hernan Crespo scored to lead Inter to victory over Parma and put Inter twenty points clear of Roma with nine games of the Serie A season remaining.
The Brazilian full-back opened his scoring account with a sublime solo goal on 56 minutes. Crespo slotted home against his former club fourteen minutes later to hand Roberto Mancini his 100th victory as Inter coach.
There were fews signs of post-international break ring rustiness as the Nerazzurri took full advantage of Roma’s home stalemate with AC Milan and claim their 25th win from 29 league games.
Cambiasso, back in the team for the first time since sustaining an injury in the 2-2 Champions League draw with Valencia, almost got the afternoon off to a perfect start but stabbed wide after a Stankovic cross.
Francesco Toldo, between the posts in place of Julio Cesar, kept out efforts from Rossi, Gasbarroni as relegation-threatened Parma created plenty of early opportunities.
Inter stepped up a gear in the fifteen-minute period before the interval. Marco Materazzi had an overhead kick tipped over by Bucci then Crespo crashed a close-range volley just over.
Maxwell delighted the Meazza with a memorable opening goal after the restart. The Brazilian wing-back won the ball on the touchline, one-twoed with Crespo, slalomed past three Parma defenders and crashed his shot into the roof of the net.
Rossi fired a low shot narrowly wide as a spirited Parma side fought hard for a leveller. But Hernan Crespo increased Inter’s lead on 70 minutes, sidefooting into an open net after receiving square from Adriano.
The Gialloblu’s continued efforts were thwarted by Francesco Toldo, who pulled off a reflex save from Parma’s man of the match Gasbarroni .
Inter went close to a deserved third when Adriano’s header from Recoba’s pinpoint curling cross hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced back off the line.
Gasbarroni then had a flicked effort cleared off the line by Maicon after his initial shot was parried by Toldo, who minutes later made a crucial block from ex-Inter playmaker Domenico Morfeo.
Adriano could have made extra sure of the points late on but fired over after collecting a crossfield pass from Mariano Gonzalez.
Both goalkeepers were called into action in time added on, Recoba forcing Bucci into a diving save before Rossi tested Toldo with a diagonal shot.
Continue reading ‘Inter 2 – Parma 0 (Crespo Goal!)’
