Final score

27 November 2005 15:00

Messina
26' (2nd half) Di Napoli
Inter
14' (2nd half) Cambiasso
7' Recoba
Referee: Matteo Trefoloni / Linesmen: Lanciani, Lanciano / Fourth official: Cassarà
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
47' Half time. Inter lead Messina 1-0 at the San Filippo thanks to Recoba's 7th-minute goal.
47' D'Agostino fires high and wide from 20 yards.
45' 2 minutes of added time to play.
45' Rezaey blocks a Figo cross as Inter continue to find spaces on the right channel.
44' Adriano beats Rezaey to Iliev's suicidal back pass but can't stop the ball from going out for a Messina goal kick.
43' Esteban Cambiasso chases a ball played into the Messina box but Storari gets there before the Argentine midfielder.
42' Favalli blocks a cross and concedes a right-wing corner. Julio Cesar beats D'Agostino to Rezaey's cross.
41' Good chance for Recoba, who takes on Cristante in the box then tries to beat Storari at the near post before Zoro clears.
39' Figo's insidious right-foot shot 20 from yards comes off Rezaey and goes out for a Nerazzurri corner.
38' Sculli's high cross from the right goes out for an Inter throw-in at the far side.
38' Messina continue to push for an equaliser as Coppola fires wide from 20 yards.
35' Iliev's right-foot shot from 20 yards is well wide of the right post.
34' Aronica's hooked cross from the left is headed clear by Cordoba.
33' Zampagna's long-range shot flies wide of the right post.
32' At the other end Messina win a free kick in a central position 25 yards out.
32' Adriano's effort dips as it nears the goal but finishes over Storari's crossbar.
31' Another free kick to Inter for a foul on Adriano, this time about 35 yards out.
29' El Chino's pin-point cross from the left is headed over by Adriano from close range as Inter go close to a second goal.
29' Recoba's ball into the box is headed clear by Rezaey.
28' Inter win a free kick over 30 yards out for a Cristante foul on Stankovic.
27' Zampagna's low, right-foot shot is several yards wide of the left post.
26' Free kick to Messina in a central position 30 yards out for a Cordoba foul on Iliev.
25' Alvaro Recoba receives on his right foot, switches to his favoured left then sends a 20-yard shot on target. Storari saves.
24' Great ball by Recoba to Stankovic, who is tackled by Rezaey on the edge of the Messina penalty area.
24' Another good save by Julio Cesar from Sculli's central volley.
22' Recoba's inswinger from the right-wing corner flag is blocked and Inter win a second corner. Adriano heads over from close range.
21' Back in the Messina half Inter win a free kick over 40 yards out for a foul on Adriano. Zoro heads Recoba's cross out for an Inter corner.
20' Iliev goes down in the box after minimal contact with Javier Zanetti and has a penalty claim turned down by Trefoloni for diving.
19' Magnificent one-handed save by Julio Cesar to deny D'Agostino a goal from a low, diagonal shot from inside the Inter box.
18' Favalli is booked for a foul on Sculli.
18' Luis Figo creates space for a cross from the right. At the far post Stankovic heads across the face of the six-yard box.
15' D'Agostino's shot from the distance is deflected out for a Messina corner.
13' Stankovic delivers another excellent cross from the right. Storari beats Adriano to the ball at the back post.
11' Zampagna just fails to make aerial contact with Iliev's dangerous inswinger from the left. Goal kick to Inter.
11' Adriano looks for Recoba with a ball to the edge of the Messina box but Cristante intercepts.
9' Play resumes as the Nerazzurri take the free kick quickly. Recoba feeds through to Figo, who is dispossessed in the area.
8' Play is momentarily interrupted as The Emperor receives treatment.
8' Sculli is booked for a bad foul on Adriano on the left wing.
7' Superb goal by Alvaro Recoba!!!! Stankovic whips in a cross from the right and El Chino volleys home from ten yards out. 1-0 to Inter.
6' Favalli's high cross into the six-yard box from the left channel is caught by Storari.
5' At the other end Rezaey wins a duel with Adriano on the right edge of the Sicilian penalty box.
4' Iliev breaks down the left but Javier Zanetti makes a timely tackle to intercept the Messina winger.
2' Samuel blocks a Sculli cross and concedes the first corner of the match.
1' Inter team news: Roberto Mancini keeps faith with Adriano and Recoba in atack as Dejan Stankovic returns to the starting line-up. Giuseppe Favalli returns at left-back.
1' Inter, who are playing in their white away strip today, kick off.
Minute Text commentary
49' Full time. Inter beat Messina 2-1.
47' At the other end Messina win a right-wing corner. D'Agostino's cross is headed clear by Adriano. Zoro's follow-up shot from the distance is wide of the left post.
46' Veron's curls his free kick over Storari's crossbar.
46' Veron is caught by Zoro after a combination with Favalli. Free kick to Inter on the left edge of the Messina area.
45' 4 minutes of added time to play.
45' Free kick to Inter on the left wing for a Zoro foul on Martins.
44' Di Napoli's curler from the edge of the area is high over Julio Cesar's crossbar.
43' Materazzi beats Giampà to D'Agostino's ball in from the right. Veron clears.
42' Adriano's left-foot shot from the distance is way over the Messina crossbar.
39' Javier Zanetti is fouled by Donati as he receives from Adriano. Free kick to Inter 35 yards out on the right wing.
38' Adriano's left-foot shot from the free kick hits the Messina wall.
37' Aronica brings down Martins right on the edge of the Messina penalty area. Free kick.
36' Julio Cesar blocks Di Napoli's close-range effort to keep Inter in front.
33' Messina coach Mutti brings on Giampà and Yanagisawa for Sculli and Coppola.
32' Inter close to a third goal. Martins makes a diagonal run from the left, dribbles Zoro then lifts the ball over Storari, but the Messina keeper gets a touch to the ball and concedes a corner.
31' Sculli's right-foot volley from the edge of the Inter box is saved by Julio Cesar.
30' Storari punches clear a Veron cross from the left-wing corner flag.
28' D'Agostino is yellow-carded for a foul on Martins.
26' Messina pull a goal back through Di Napoli. Julio Cesar parries a cross but Di Napoli pounces on the loose ball in the area and slots through the Inter keeper's legs.
24' Walter Samuel makes a headed clearance from Di Napoli's cross.
22' Veron's inswinging cross from the left-wing corner flag is palmed clear by the Messina custodian.
22' Oba Martins is straight into the action with a crisp 20-yard strike that Storari tips over the crossbar.
20' Roberto Mancini makes a double switch: on come Martins and Materazzi for Recoba and Figo.
19' Aronica intercepts a Stankovic pass to Recoba.
15' That was El Cuchu's fourth goal for Inter this season.
14' GOOOAAALLLL!!! Esteban Cambiasso controls a headed pass by Cordoba and lashes past Storari from ten yards out. 2-0 to Inter.
14' Figo wins Inter a right-wing corner. Recoba's cross from the corner flag is punched clear by Storari.
12' Veron glides past three opponents then sends a low, left-foot shot wide of the left post.
12' Free kick to Inter ten yards inside the Messina half for a D'Agostino foul on Figo.
10' Messina bring on Di Napoli for Iliev.
9' Adriano is tackled by Coppola on the edge of the Messina box as he receives from El Chino, who made a storming run down the left.
8' D'Agostino's cross from a 35-yard free kick is headed clear by Adriano.
7' Recoba's stinging left-foot shot from the distance is just wide of the right post.
6' Stankovic tries to hook Veron's headed pass on target from 20 yards but the Serb's effort is off target.
5' Recoba chests a Stankovic cross down for Adriano but Storari beats the Brazilian forward to the ball.
3' Another superb save by Julio Cesar who pushes D'Agostino's 20-yard shot round the left post.
2' Zampagna latches on to an Iliev pass and has his angled shot blocked by Javier Zanetti. Attacking throw-in to the home side.
1' Messina get the second half under way.
Recoba
8.55
8.55
Zanetti
7.22
7.22
Cordoba
6.87
6.87
Materazzi
6.44
6.44
Adriano
6.19
6.19
Martins
6.2
6.2
Stankovic
7.2
7.2
Favalli
6.36
6.36
Veron
7.19
7.19
Cambiasso
8.18
8.18
Julio Cesar
7.17
7.17
Samuel
6.73
6.73
Figo
7.22
7.22
Average rating 7.04
6 shots on target 4
7 shots off target 8
19 fouls committed 13
5 corners 7
1 offsides 1
26:51 ball possession 27:36
The ref: Matteo Trefoloni

Place & date of birth: Siena, 31/03/1971
Refereeing section: Siena
Serie A debut: 26/08/01 Udinese-Torino 2-2

Messina matches refereed
Cavese-Messina 1-0 (Serie C2 1999/00)
Messina-Ancona 1-1 (Serie B 2001/02)
Messina-Verona 2-1 (Serie B 2002/03)
Pescara-Messina 1-2 (Serie B 2003/04)
Juventus-Messina 2-1 (Serie A 2004/05)
Messina-Atalanta 1-0 (Serie A 2004/05)
Messina-Bologna 0-0 (Serie A 2004/05)

Inter matches refereed
Inter-Udinese 2-2 (C. Italia 2001/02)
Juventus-Inter 1-3 (Serie A 2003/04)
Lazio-Inter 2-1 (Serie A 2003/04)
Inter-Lazio 1-1 (Serie A 2004/05)
Palermo-Inter 0-2 (Serie A 2004/05)
Inter-Roma 2-0 (Serie A 2004/05)
Lazio-Inter 1-1 (Serie A 2004/05)

Disciplinary situation

Disqualified: Mamede (Messina)
Cautioned: Donati, Rezaei (Messina), Veron (Inter)

Mutti v Mancini

In three Serie A meetings between the two coaches, Mancini has won twice and Mutti once.

Messina v Inter

The Nerazzurri have won two and lost one of their three matches away to Messina. Inter's last win away to the Sicilians was a 1-0 victory in the 1964/65 Serie A. Messina's only home win against Inter was last season's 2-1 victory.

Inter's 235-minute Serie A invincibility

Inter haven't let in a Serie A goal for 235 minutes (last 55 minutes of Samp 2-2 Inter after Diana's 35th-minute goal on 29 October plus entire matches against Lazio and Parma).

Ten different Inter players on target

Like cross-city rivals AC Milan, ten different Inter players have scored Serie A goals so far this season: Cruz, Adriano, Cambiasso, Cordoba, Martins, Figo, Materazzi, Recoba, Samuel and Stankovic.

Inter invincible from 75'-90'

Inter and Juve are the only two teams contesting the 2005/06 championship yet to concede a goal in the final fifteen-minute periods of matches, added time included. The positive trend continues from last season, when the Nerazzurri let in just 8 goals in the final quarter-hour periods of Serie A matches (only Udinese and Milan did better, with 6 goals conceded).

Off the bench and in the net

Seven of Inter's twenty-two league goals this season have been scored by Julio Cruz, Adriano and Cambiasso in matches in which the three players came on as substitutes. El Jardinero came off the bench to score twice at Palermo, once at home to Lecce and once away to Lecce. Adriano scored twice against Roma last month, while El Cuchu came on to score against Parma last Sunday. No other team has scored as many goals with substitutes.

No Messina goal for over two matches

Messina's last Serie A goal was D'Agostino's effort in the 83rd minute of last 30 October's match at Lecce. The Giallorossi are without a league goal for the remaining seven minutes of that game plus the entire matches against Roma and Udinese.

Messina's 'yellow fever'

With 37 yellow cards in the first 12 rounds of the 2005/06 Serie A championship (average 3 per game), Messina are the most undisciplined Serie A team so far this season.

Muslimovic set for 100th Italian appearance

If he plays against Inter in Week 13 Zlatan Muslimovic will complete a century of appearances in the Italian football league. The Bosnian striker has played 11 Serie A matches, 19 in the Serie B, 62 in the Serie C1, 5 in the Coppa Italia and 2 in other competitions. He has played for Udinese, Perugia, Pistoiese, Ascoli, Padova, Rimini and Messina, and made his debut in Vicenza 1-2 Udinese (Serie A, 4 February 2001.

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(4) draws(0) defeats(1)
MESSINA - Inter beat Messina 2-0 at the San Filippo to end the week with three victories and give Roberto Mancini the best possible 41st birthday present.

Alvaro Recoba and Esteban Cambiasso scored in either half to keep the Nerazzurri fourth in the Serie A table behind Juventus, AC Milan and Fiorentina.

'El Chino' Recoba opened the scoring on 7 minutes with an unstoppable left-foot volley from Stankovic's cross to notch his third of the season

Inter had Julio Cesar to thank for a series of fine saves and continued to push for a second goal as the Uruguayan and strike partner Adriano both had good chances to double before the break.

Cambiasso, who scored in last Sunday's victory over Parma, gave Inter breathing space fourteen minutes into the second half. The Argentine midfielder controlled Cordoba's headed assist then with just Storari to beat lashed past the Messina keeper from ten yards.

The Nerazzurri continued to enjoy the run of play after Cuchu's fouth goal of the season, but the Sicilians pulled one back on 71 minutes, Di Napoli shooting through Julio Cesar's legs after the Brazilian keeper had parried a cross.

Inter held on for victory and could have restored the two-goal cushion through Martins, who had a shot tipped over by Storari in the final stages.

Inter's defence of the Coppa Italia begins in midweek with a round of sixteen first leg tie away to Parma on Wednesday.

MESSINA 1-2 INTER (HT: 0-1)

Scorers: Recoba 7, Cambiasso 59, Di Napoli 71

MESSINA (4-4-2): 1 Storari; 8 Zoro, 2 Rezaey, 4 Cristante, 6 Aronica; 14 Sculli (17 Giampà 78), 24 Coppola (13 Yanagisawa 78), 5 Donati, 10 Iliev (11 Di Napoli 55); 7 D'Agostino, 9 Zampagna
Subs not used: 88 Caglioni, 3 Orolunleke, 25 Fusco, 27 Zanchi
Coach: Bortolo Mutti

INTER (4-4-2): 12 Julio Cesar; 4 J.Zanetti, 2 Cordoba, 25 Samuel, 16 Favalli; 7 Figo (23 Materazzi 65), 14 Veron, 19 Cambiasso; 5 Stankovic; 10 Adriano, 20 Recoba (30 Martins 65)
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 3 Burdisso, 6 C.Zanetti, 8 Pizarro, 9 Cruz
Coach: Roberto Mancini

Referee: Matteo Trefoloni (Siena)

Booked: Sculli 8, Favalli 18, D'Agostino 73

starting lineups

Storari 12 Julio Cesar
Zoro 4 Zanetti
Rezaey 2 Cordoba
Cristante 25 Samuel
Aronica 16 Favalli
Sculli 7 Figo
Coppola 14 Veron
Donati 19 Cambiasso
Iliev 5 Stankovic
D'Agostino 10 Adriano
Zampagna 20 Recoba

substitutes

Caglioni 1 Toldo
Olorunleke 23 Materazzi
Di Napoli 6 Zanetti
Yanagisawa 8 Pizarro
Giampa' 9 Cruz
Fusco 30 Martins
Zanchi 3 Burdisso