Well we got one down already....
ADRIANO, VIERI SINK UDINESE
Sunday, 17 October 2004 17:09:33
MILAN - He might have missed his flight back to Italy on Friday, but Adriano didn't miss the target at the San Siro on Sunday afternoon. The Emperor inspired Inter to a 3-1 victory over Udinese with two first-half corkers and Christian Vieri made the result safe with the Nerazzurri's other goal - his first in a competitive match since April.
The Brazilian bomber gave Inter a dream start to their first league win at home this season with a thunderous long-range free kick in the eighth minute, then doubled the score four minutes later with what has to be the best individual effort of the Serie A campaign so far. He received from Juan Veron then ran half the pitch, dribbled three opponents and fired past De Sanctis.
Udinese pulled one back early in the second half through Mauri, who won the ball just inside the Inter box then placed his shot past Fontana. After several minutes of Bianconeri pressure, Christian Vieri restored the Nerazzurri's two-goal advantage. The Italian centre-forward took Adriano's assist past Cribari then poked home. Who said Vieri and Adriano can't play together?
Inter are next in action this Wednesday with a Uefa Champions League Matchday 3 clash with Valencia at the Mestalla.
INTER 3-1 UDINESE (HT: 2-0)
Scorers: Adriano 8', 12', Mauri 52', Vieri 57'
INTER: 12 Fontana, 3 Burdisso, 6 C.Zanetti, 7 van der Meyde (4 J. Zanetti 52'), 10 Adriano, 13 Zé Maria (8 Davids 64'), 14 Veron, 16 Favalli (2 Cordoba 77'), 19 Cambiasso 23 Materazzi, 32 Vieri
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 21 Karagounis, 25 Stankovic, 26 Pasquale
Coach: Mancini
UDINESE: 1 De Sanctis, 2 Kroldrup, 3 Cribari, 4 Bertotto (77 Belleri '), 6 Jankulovski, 10 Di Natale, 11 Fava, 13 Pinzi (21 Pazienza 67'), 18 Muntari, 19 Felipe (17 Di Michele 46'), 23 Mauri
Subs not used: 24 Handanovic, 20 Sensini, 22 Alberto, 26 Pieri,
Coach: Spalletti
Referee: Paparesta
Booked: van der Meyde 37', Pinzi 64', C.Zanetti 81'
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A very good win. The defense has improved since the last game, but the main man of the match was Adriano. A simply jaw dropping freekick and then an amazing run down half the field, beating 2 defenders and blasting it home. Adriano is simply on fire
It was also nice that Vieri scored as well. Hopefully he has gotten over his slump. Veron also played well and so did the rest of the team. Van der Meyde's form sort of dropped but hopefully he gets back on that fine form he was riding early in the season.
Burdisso and Materazzi also form a formidable pairing in the backline.
Things are looking good for the squad, and the team is now in the 6th position and I'm sure we will continue to rise up the table until we overtake Juve.
Anywayz the next 4 games will all be tough.
Valencia (CL), AC Milan, Lecce, Lazio.
Each and everyone will be a tough test, especially the first 2. Though I'm feeling confident that Adriano and his crew can get the job done.