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Inter scrape home at Perugia
Inter Milan left it late to grab a vital win that keeps their bid for a place in the Champions League alive while piling the pressure on Perugia who are increasingly looking doomed to relegation.
However, in the closing five minutes Adriano levelled the scores with a second fine strike before another substitute, Obafemi Martins, sealed victory with a goal that had a hint of offside about it. Perugia made most of the early running and they were desperately unlucky not to lead early on. A prolonged period of pressure ended with Christian Obodo hooking the ball against the angle of the crossbar and post. Minutes later, Perugia hit the woodwork again with the culprit this time Fabiano. And after 23 minutes Perugia were made to pay for their profligacy when Inter took the lead with an outstanding strike. Brazilian Adriano received the ball with his back to goal but dipped his shoulder and beat his marker before then taking the ball around a second Perugia defender. Bursting deep into the penalty area he then lifted the ball over the advancing Zeljko Kalac for his 34th goal in 71 Serie A matches for Inter, Fiorentina and Parma. There was nothing wrong with the goal but other refereeing decisions were irritating Perugia and play was suspended while the match officials persuaded Alessandro Gaucci to leave the touchline where he had been haranguing the referee. Gaucci, son of the club president Luciano, eventually agreed, receiving a kiss from the club's Libyan midfielder Saadi Gaddafi in sympathy as he departed. When battle recommenced Obodo forced a good save from Francesco Toldo but at the other end Giorgos Karagounis was foiled by Kalac. Adriano fired in another shot which was well saved by Kalac while Ze Maria fired a free-kick straight at Toldo at the other end. When the second half started, Inter once more were put on the back foot and Fabrizio Ravanelli should have done better when he hooked the ball high and wide of the target. Finally Perugia deservedly pulled level. Paul Codrea burst down the left flank and had his initial shot blocked by Toldo but he drove the ball back across goal and Eusebio Di Francesco headed home from close range. Minutes later it was 2-1 to Perugia. Di Francesco won a free-kick when he was bundled over by Marco Materazzi. Toldo punched clear the free-kick but it was driven back into the box and Hubner reacted quickest to trap the ball and score. Inter coach Alberto Zaccheroni brought on Martins and the young Nigerian promptly set up a chance for Adriano who failed to hit the target. Karagounis curled a free-kick just wide of the post but not long after it was 2-2 when Adriano again received the ball with his back to goal and rifled a shot with his left foot into the far corner. Then came the sucker punch. Perugia were left looking for an offside trap and Adriano was clearly in an illegal position. The ball instead found Martins who raced through and took the ball around Kalac before scoring. It was scarcely deserved for Inter but these three points keep them in the hunt for a Champions League place. Perugia, five points below fourth-bottom Modena, are desperate for wins just to make the relegation/promotion play-offs. |
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