16 October 2006, by Sean Gillen

Figo reverts to wing to help Inter extend lead

Inter 2-1 Catania

Inter Milan moved clear at the top of Serie A after coming from behind to earn all three points against Catania at the San Siro. Dejan Stankovic struck twice for the champions after Giuseppe Mascara had given the visitors an early lead.

The Nerazurri desperately needed a win to lift morale ahead of their crucial midweek Champions League match with Spartak Moscow, and Roberto Mancini recalled Luis Figo to the starting line-up after the Portuguese had been dropped for the team’s previous game with Cagliari.

After a bright start from the home side in which Zlatan Ibrahimovic was close to getting on the end of a Santiago Solari cross, Catania silenced the San Siro crowd with a stunning 16th minute strike. Mascara controlled a throw-in near the touchline and turned before flicking the ball up and hitting a superb volley into the top corner of Julio Cesar’s goal.

Figo assist

Having recently enjoyed a spell playing behind the strikers, Figo was back in his more familiar role on the right wing, and the former Real Madrid man showed his quality when setting up Inter’s equaliser just before the half-hour mark.

The Portuguese picked up the ball on the inside right of the penalty area and floated a perfect cross onto the head of Stankovic, and the Serbian headed into the bottom corner.

The home side dominated possession but saw few openings in the remainder of the first half. Inter continued to press in the second period and Argentine Solari saw his left-footed shot saved after finding space in the box following a good move from the home side.

Inter were then awarded a dubious penalty when Figo’s free-kick into the box resulted in substitute Julio Cruz tumbling to the ground after tangling with a Catania defender. TV replays did little to back up the referee’s decision, but justice was done when Cruz’ poorly taken spot kick was saved by Pantanelli. The goalkeeper made another excellent save immediately after, saving a Cordoba header from the resulting corner.

The winning goal came with less than 15 minutes left as Figo’s in-swinging corner was punched away by Pantanelli, only for Stankovic to lash in a half volley from the edge of the area for his second.

Some light pressure from Catania followed, but Inter were ultimately comfortable in seeing out the final stages of the game, and Figo was withdrawn in injury time as Mancini shored things up with defender Marco Materazzi.

Figo’s men entertain Spartak Moscow at the San Siro on Wednesday, and a win is an absolute must as the team hope to turn around their fortunes in Group B of the competition, where they currently languish four points behind second place Sporting after two games.

Inter:
Julio Cesar; Zanetti, Cordoba, Samuel, Maxwell (Maicon 46); Figo (Materazzi 88), Dacourt, Stankovic, Solari; Adriano (Cruz 60), Ibrahimovic
Yellow Cards: Cordoba (21)

Catania:
Pantanelli; Silvestri, Minelli, Sottil, Vargas; Caserta, Edusei (Del Core 84), Baiocco; Colucci, Spinesi (Corona 57), Mascara
Yellow Cards: Colucci (43), Baiocco (61), Minelli (68)

Goals:
[0-1] Mascara, 16
[1-1] Stankovic, 29
[2-1] Stankovic, 75