CUP FINAL 1ST LEG: ALL SQUARE IN ROME
Wednesday, 03 May 2006 22:49:04

ROME - Amantino Mancini replied to a Julio Cruz goal as Roma held Inter 1-1 at the Olimpico to keep the Coppa Italia final perfectly poised ahead of next Thursday's return leg.

Cruz combined with strike partner Adriano to give Inter the lead on eight minutes. The Brazilian forward split open the Giallorossi defence with a deft through ball and El Jardinero obliged, sliding past Doni to silence the Olimpico.

Spurred on by a vociferous 70,000-strong crowd Roma went on to dominate the first half but their only real chance fell to Daniele De Rossi, whose floated cross-shot was turned round by Julio Cesar at the angle between bar and post.

Doni did well to parry Dejan Stankovic's blistering long-distance free kick on the stroke of half time to keep Roma in the game.

Spalletti's side showed no signs of slowing down in the second half and the pressure paid off with a deserved equaliser ten minutes in when Amantino Mancini fired low past Julio Cesar after De Rossi played the Brazilian into space with a neat backheeled pass from Taddei's cross.

Julio Cesar denied Alvarez a dramatic winner with a crucial save from the Roma sub's low diagonal shot in injury time.

ROMA 1-1 INTER (HT: 0-1)

Scorers: Cruz 8, Mancini 55

ROMA: 32 Doni; 2 Panucci, 5 Mexes, 13 Chivu (3 Bovo 46), 25 Cufrè; 14 Kharja, 16 De Rossi, 20 Perrotta, 17 Tommasi (35 Okaka Chuka 81), 30 Mancini (7 Alvarez 85); 11 Taddei
Subs not used: 1 Curci, 4 Kuffour, 10 Totti, 40 Nonda
Coach: Luciano Spalletti

INTER: 12 Julio Cesar; 4 J. Zanetti , 2 Cordoba, 25 Samuel (3 Burdisso 71), 16 Favalli; 7 Figo , 8 Pizarro, 19 Cambiasso, 5 Stankovic (31 Cesar 74); 9 Cruz, 10 Adriano (30 Martins 81)
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 18 Kily González, 21 Solari, 23 Materazzi
Coach: Roberto Mancini

Referee: Matteo Trefoloni (Siena)

Booked: Cruz 12, Taddei 43, Samuel 66, Mexes 71, Pizarro 90+3, Martins 90+5

CUP FINAL 1ST LEG: ALL SQUARE IN ROME
Wednesday, 03 May 2006 22:49:04

ROME - Amantino Mancini replied to a Julio Cruz goal as Roma held Inter 1-1 at the Olimpico to keep the Coppa Italia final perfectly poised ahead of next Thursday's return leg.

Cruz combined with strike partner Adriano to give Inter the lead on eight minutes. The Brazilian forward split open the Giallorossi defence with a deft through ball and El Jardinero obliged, sliding past Doni to silence the Olimpico.

Spurred on by a vociferous 70,000-strong crowd Roma went on to dominate the first half but their only real chance fell to Daniele De Rossi, whose floated cross-shot was turned round by Julio Cesar at the angle between bar and post.

Doni did well to parry Dejan Stankovic's blistering long-distance free kick on the stroke of half time to keep Roma in the game.

Spalletti's side showed no signs of slowing down in the second half and the pressure paid off with a deserved equaliser ten minutes in when Amantino Mancini fired low past Julio Cesar after De Rossi played the Brazilian into space with a neat backheeled pass from Taddei's cross.

Julio Cesar denied Alvarez a dramatic winner with a crucial save from the Roma sub's low diagonal shot in injury time.

ROMA 1-1 INTER (HT: 0-1)

Scorers: Cruz 8, Mancini 55

ROMA: 32 Doni; 2 Panucci, 5 Mexes, 13 Chivu (3 Bovo 46), 25 Cufrè; 14 Kharja, 16 De Rossi, 20 Perrotta, 17 Tommasi (35 Okaka Chuka 81), 30 Mancini (7 Alvarez 85); 11 Taddei
Subs not used: 1 Curci, 4 Kuffour, 10 Totti, 40 Nonda
Coach: Luciano Spalletti

INTER: 12 Julio Cesar; 4 J. Zanetti , 2 Cordoba, 25 Samuel (3 Burdisso 71), 16 Favalli; 7 Figo , 8 Pizarro, 19 Cambiasso, 5 Stankovic (31 Cesar 74); 9 Cruz, 10 Adriano (30 Martins 81)
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 18 Kily González, 21 Solari, 23 Materazzi
Coach: Roberto Mancini

Referee: Matteo Trefoloni (Siena)

Booked: Cruz 12, Taddei 43, Samuel 66, Mexes 71, Pizarro 90+3, Martins 90+5

Appiano Gentile,
Apart from the result, what didn't you like about Inter's performance against Parma?"
The team played well. We have played well in all our last three defeats against Fiorentina, Juventus and Parma. Last night's match was a very similar game to the one in Florence. In the first half we played in Parma's half."
Perhaps the players were a bit tired in the second half. Do you agree?
"Absolutely not. Our second half was the same as the first, but as the minutes pass it's obvious that your opponents have more chances to find spaces. Parma had a couple of chances from counter-attacks when Toldo did very well. But Inter played in Parma's half yesterday, and a bit of tiredness in the final minutes is normal because we ran a lot and the match was played at a high tempo. The result often changes your opinion of a match, but the team played well yesterday, even if lately we have this problem: we have created so much but haven't put the ball in the net.

What do Inter lack in attack?
"Only the goals are missing. We get to the last twenty metres then have a few problems scoring because the statistics say so. So we have to try to improve this."

Adriano hasn't scored regularly this season. What do you think about this?
"I wouldn't single out Adriano. A team is made up of defenders who defend, midfielders who have to give cover and open up play for the strikers, and centre-forwards who have to score. But there are times when strikers don't score, and in these cases they have to work for the team. We mustn't talk about individuals like Adriano, Recoba, Cruz or Martins, we must talk about the team in general. Sometimes the strikers don't score, but there are other situations in which other components of the team can gain advantages from their movements. The strikers can't always score, but they can do important things."

What is the best way to get Adriano in top condition?
"After every match they always ask me a question about Adriano. They did yesterday, too. I replied that he's an Inter player like all the others, and he can be left out like others... Then I read that Mancini will leave Adriano out or things like this... I have never said these things, I only said what I have always said in reply to a question.

""What kind of Inter is needed to beat Villarreal?"We mustn't create a drama each time the team loses, particularly after a match like yesterday's in which we played well. I see what happens and I would be worried if the team played badly. My only worry is that the team is having a few problems scoring, but this is a problem we have had since the first round of the championship. We're in excellent condition and we're playing well. I have no big worries. I'm disappointed about the defeat because we had made good preparations for the match and we played well. I didn't remotely think we could lose. The boys gave their best and wasted a lot. I'm sorry for them because they didn't deserve to lose. But I'm haven't lost heart."

Milano,Dejan Stankovic scored as Inter beat Ajax 1-0 in Tuesday evening's Champions League round of 16 return leg at the Meazza to qualify for the quarter-finals of Europe's elite competition. The Nerazzurri now face Spanish outfit Villarreal over two legs on Wednesday 29 March (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza) and Tuesday 4 April (Estadio El Madrigal).

Roberto Mancini's men ran Ajax ragged with some slick first-half football, with the best early chances falling to front men Obafemi Martins and Adriano.
The Nigerian's spectacular volley on the turn rattled Stekelenburg's crossbar on 13 minutes, with the Brazilian uncharacteristically sending a penalty wide fourteen minutes later after Lancers captain Lindenbergh handled a Stankovic cross in his own box.
Perseverance paid off 12 minutes into the second half when Stankovic scored a memorable goal to put the Nerazzurri in front and leave Ajax facing a mammoth task. On his 300th appearance for an Italian club, the Serb midfielder ran on to Samuel's long pass down the left, took the ball past Maduro then curled right-footed into the far corner.

before the match, figo and fachetti reciving special award from UEFA. and there are many inter legends player come to the pitch.

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MANCINI: "NO EASY MATCH IN CHAMPIONS"
Monday, 13 March 2006 15:33:36

APPIANO GENTILE - Part two of Roberto Mancini's pre-Inter v Ajax news conference:

Mancini, what kind of Ajax side are you expecting tomorrow evening?
"Inter and Ajax are two quite similar teams who never play to defend a result. Ajax will play their game and try to win tomorrow like they did in the first leg. It's a question of mentality."

Have you already chosen your team for tomorrow evening's match?
"We will see tomorrow morning. A few of our players are a bit tired after Saturday evening's match. Figo and Recoba, for example, were a bit tired, so as I said, we will see tomorrow."

Who is the ideal partner in attack for Adriano?
"First of all, I think Adriano can do even better than he did on Saturday. Physically he's better and he can only improve now. As far as his strike partner is concerned there are no problems. He has played well with everyone. He gets on well with Recoba because El Chino gets up and gets the ball and leaves more spaces for Adriano, and he also plays well with Cruz and Martins. How important was his goal on Saturday evening? It was a very important goal and we are all very happy."

If Inter don't get through the round tomorrow night, would they have missed a great chance to progress in the Champions League?
"When you lose and are knocked out of the cup it's always a chance thrown away, like last season in the Champions League quarter-finals against Milan. There's never any easy round in the Champions, particularly after the group phase. Liverpool-Benfica and Rangers-Villarreal didn't go as it seemed they would. There are never any easy matches, even when it seems as if your opponents are inferior."

what do you think, are inter through to the next round ???