25 September 2006, by Sean Gillen

Careless Inter survive late Chievo fight-back

Inter Milan 4-3 Chievo

Inter Milan survived an unbelievable late comeback from Braga’s UEFA Cup opponents, Chievo, to hold out for a victory at the San Siro, and make it two wins in five days in Serie A.

From a position of being 4-0 up with thirteen minutes left on the clock, the Nerazurri conceded three goals in twelve minutes as the visitors threatened to snatch an amazing draw.

Portuguese legend Luis Figo returned to the Inter line-up after being dropped for the midweek trip to Roma, and the former Real Madrid star took up his adopted position for this season – a central role behind the forwards.

Inter had their opponents on the back foot from the first whistle, and Adriano had the first opportunity after just five minutes when he controlled an excellent pass from Dejan Stankovic, only to strike the ball straight at Squizzi with his weaker right foot.

It did not take long before the hosts took the lead, however, and Hernan Crespo added to his winner against Roma on Wednesday by finishing clinically from a tight angle after a perfectly weighted ball from Olivier Dacourt.

Figo rocket shot

Figo then hit a stunning 30-metre shot with his right foot, which was parried over by Squizzi, before Godeas had a rare chance for Chievo, but Inter’s Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar comfortably saved his turn and shot.

Out of form Brazilian striker Adriano then went on a powerful solo run, but ultimately fired straight at Squizzi as Inter went into the break with just a one-goal lead.

Figo played a part in his side doubling their advantage when he drifted a cross in from the left that was parried out by Squizzi, and Argentine defender Walter Samuel nodded into an empty net.

Dejan Stankovic then scored the goal of the game in the 64th minute, the Serb hitting a stunning 30-metre shot from wide on the left which flew into the top corner. Crespo helped himself to a second shortly after with an equally unerring finish from a well-timed throughball from Adriano, the forward shooting across goal, again from a tight angle.

With the thoughts of many within the ground probably beginning to turn to the midweek Champions League game, Inter’s defence suddenly fell apart, and almost threw away their seemingly comfortable lead.

Goalkeeper Julio Cesar brought down Pellissier in the penalty area, and the forward converted the spot-kick for what appeared no more than a consolation on 76 minutes. Tiribocchi then turned and unleashed an unstoppable strike from outside the box with just four minutes left.

Matteo Brighi made the most of some casual Inter defending to fire past Cesar in the 88th minute. The incredible fight-back brought back memories of Inter’s opening match of the season against Fiorentina, when the side went from being 3-0 up and cruising to stumbling to a 3-2 victory.

Inter held out and the uncomfortable nature of the victory against the winless Chievo is unlikely to have relieved much of the pressure on manager Roberto Mancini. Having lost to Sporting on matchday one of the Champions League, Inter desperately need a positive result and performance against Bayern Munich at the San Siro this coming Wednesday.

Inter:
Julio Cesar; Zanetti, Cordoba, Samuel, Grosso; Solari, Dacourt (Maxwell, 71), Figo, Stankovic (Burdisso, 80); Adriano, Crespo (Gonzalez, 71)
Yellow Cards: Solari (54), Stankovic (71)

Chievo:
Squizzi; Moro, Mandelli, Scurto, Lanna; Luciano, Sammarco (Giunti, 68), Brighi, Kosowski (Marcolini, 68); Pellissier (Tiribocchi, 79), Godeas
Yellow Cards: None

Goals:
[1-0] Crespo, 11
[2-0] Samuel, 57
[3-0] Stankovic, 64
[4-0] Crespo, 70
[4-1] Pellissier, 77
[4-2] Tiribocchi, 86
[4-3] Brighi, 87