Sunday, January 10, 2010

Inter Milan 4-3 Siena


Wesley Sneijder and Walter Samuel scored late goals as Inter Milan twice came from behind to avoid a shock Serie A loss to Siena.

Massimo Maccarone's swerving effort fired Siena into an 18th-minute lead, but Inter were level six minutes later when Sneijder found Diego Milito who drilled in.

Sneijder curled in a second from a 36th-minute free-kick but Siena responded immediately as Albin Ekdal ghosted in at the back post to drill in a leveller.

Maccarone scored his second after 65 minutes but Sneijder scored his second free-kick after 88 minutes and Samuel hit a stoppage-time winner as Inter and Jose Mourinho's long unbeaten home records remained intact.

Siena had Cribari sent off as their frustrations boiled over after the final whistle.

Mourinho was staring at a first home loss in the league for almost eight years - he was unbeaten in his final season at Porto, throughout his time at Chelsea and in his first season in charge of Inter - before the late interventions of Sneijder and Samuel's winner.

Having dropped only four points at home all season prior to the contest, few would have thought Inter's 30-game unbeaten home run - dating back to the Champions League loss to Panathinaikos in November 2008 - would be under threat from a Siena side with just three points from eight games away from home this term.

A severely-depleted Nerazurri were dominant in the opening skirmishes before going close when Goran Pandev had an effort across goal turned around the post by Gianluca Curci.

But Siena took the lead against the run of play when Maccarone powered forward from the halfway line as the Inter defence stood off.

The striker unleashed a powerful 25-yard shot which deceived Julio Cesar with its movement.

Maicon forged forward from right-back and fired wide in a warning shot for Siena before Inter equalised.

Sneijder found Milito with a lofted ball and the striker made space for himself on the left of the area before rifling a right-foot shot into the far corner.

Inter went ahead after Siena conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position at the edge of the area and Sneijder stepped up and curled the ball over the wall and beyond Curci.

The lead did not last long, however, as within 60 seconds Siena had equalised.

The visitors burst down the right and Reginaldo centred for Ekdal, who prodded in a right-foot shot.

Mourinho made two interval substitutions but the introductions of Samuel and Marko Arnautovic did little to raise them from their first-half malaise.

Sneijder stung the hands of Curci early in the second half and Milito failed to find Pandev with a cross from the left.

Siena then made Inter pay as Ekdal and Reginaldo combined down the right before the latter pulled the ball back for Maccarone to power in his second.

Inter continued to have the lion's share of possession, but rarely entered the attacking third.

But the hosts needed only one opportunity and Sneijder was granted it from another free-kick 25 yards out.

The Holland international stepped up and netted off the post, before Pandev and Samuel combined and the Argentina defender scored an undeserved winner for Mourinho's side to extend their lead at the top of the table.

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