Inter suffer humiliation at Novara
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Xinhua, September 21, 2011
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Takayuki Morimoto of Novara Calcio shoots past Lucio of FC Inter Milan (R) during the Serie A match between Novara Calcio and FC Internazionale Milano at Silvio Piola Stadium on September 20, 2011 in Novara, Italy. |
Inter Milan's crisis deepened as they were humiliated 3-1 by Serie A newcomers Novara on Tuesday.
Novara, who played their first Serie A home game since they welcomed Torino on June 3, 1956, came close to scoring with just 80 seconds into play when Riccardo Meggiorini intercepted Cristian Chivu's backpass at the back post, only to see Julio Cesar bravely flung himself at his feet, earning a knock to the head.
And it was an Inter old boy, Riccardo Meggiorini, who heaped further pain on the 53-year-old tactician by scoring the opening goal in the 38th minute before Marco Rigoni secured the win with two late strikes, with Esteban Cambiasso's goal proving a mere consolation as Andrea Ranocchia saw red for a professional foul.
Former Inter player Meggiorini embodied everything positive about his side, and it was no surprise when he gave his side the lead in the 38th minute.
Japan international Takayuki Morimoto found Andrea Mazzarani in space wide on the right, and he rolled the ball into the path of the advancing Meggiorini, who fired off a thunderous low drive which flew into the net despite Chivu's best attempts to block with a lunging tackle.
Inter coach Gian Piero Gasperini attempted to change things at the break by introducing Joel Obi and Giampaolo Pazzini in place of the ineffectual pair of Diego Forlan and Castaignos.
But, despite the switches, it was the hosts who should have extended their lead in the first significant moment in the second half when Mazzarani was put through one-on-one with Julio Cesar thanks to an intelligent Morimoto flick. But the Brazilian keeper advanced to block and keep his side in the game.
Inter's embarrassment was compounded when Rigoni converted a late spot-kick after Andrea Rannochia was dismissed for a last-man foul on Morimoto.
A late flurry of activity saw Esteban Cambiasso pull one back with a well-taken strike before Rigoni tapped home after Julio Cesar had blocked a Luigi Giorgi shot to secure a win which piles the pressure on Gasperini. If the coach remains in charge, his men face another away trip this weekend when they travel south to meet Bologna at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in Saturday's early evening kick-off. Novara also find themselves on the road the following day. Last season's Serie B playoff winners are away to eventual champions Atalanta in an important early-season encounter.
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