16 April 2007, by Sean Gillen

Superb Figo going out on a high

Inter 2-2 Palermo

Luis Figo picked up his second Man of the Match award running after setting up both goals as Inter came from 2-0 down to save their unbeaten Serie A record against Palermo at the San Siro.

The Portuguese impressed for Inter in last week’s 0-0 draw with Reggina, picking up the award after the match, and he repeated the feat on Sunday evening against the Rosanero.

Palermo arrived in Milan with a poor record at the San Siro, with not a single win from nineteen games at the famous ground, but they took the lead after just three minutes through Andrea Caracciolo and Cristian Zaccardo made it 2-0 just before half time.

With Inter’s record breaking unbeaten run under threat, the Nerazurri rallied in the second half and Figo crossed for Julio Cruz to head past Fontana in the 69th minute.

The veteran Portuguese winger, who produced great service from all areas throughout the evening, then set up the equaliser for Adriano with an equally perfect cross from the left for the Brazilian to nod home his first goal since February.

After the match, Figo was given the Man of the Match award and told reporters: “We made a bad start, conceding an early goal, and at that point it was hard to restart well.”

“Palermo then doubled their lead at the end of the first half and everything became harder. We made a few mistakes too many in the first part of the game and conceded too many spaces to our opponents.”

“We sorted things out in the dressing room and deserved to win in the second half. Mancini told us what wasn’t going well, and that we had to try and give more. We came back on the pitch to change the situation, and we succeeded.”

When asked about his plans to leave top flight football at the end of the season, Figo admitted that he will miss the game at the highest level: “I’ll definitely miss top-level football, with everything that surrounds it, but I have been playing for many years, and always for great teams.”

“At my age you also have to think about when it’s time to leave, even though it’s a big sacrifice for me.”

“But for now the only goal is to win the Scudetto on the pitch after the one last season. Not long to go now? I don’t like celebrating before winning, but we’re certainly closer after today.”

Inter:
Julio Cesar; Maicon, Burdisso, Materazzi, Grosso (Stankovic 53); Zanetti, Dacourt (Ibrahimovic 62), Cambiasso; Figo; Crespo (Cruz 32), Adriano

Palermo:
Fontana; Dellafiore, Barzagli, Zaccardo; Diana, Simplicio, Guana, Bresciano, Cassani; Cavani; Caracciolo (Giacomazzi 71)

Goals:
[0-1] Caracciolo, 3
[0-2] Zaccardo, 45
[1-2] Cruz, 67
[2-2] Adriano, 74