Final score

6 May 2007 15:00

Messina
Inter
27' (2nd half) Crespo
Referee: Domenico Celi / Linesmen: Rossomando, Toscano / Fourth official: Damato
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
46' Half time. Messina 0-0 Inter.
46' Recoba's cross-cum-shot from the left flashes wide of the far post.
45' 1 minute of added time.
45' Mariano Gonzalez booked after a foul on Lavecchia.
44' Paoletti saves Solari's cross at the second attempt to deny Fabio Grosso at the back post.
42' Dacourt's name is scribbled into Celi's book after a foul in midfield.
41' The Giallorossi hit straight back and go close though 'King Arthur' Di Napoli, who controls a long ball forward and tries to surprise Toldo with a flicked lob shot.
40' After a period of Messina possession Adriano races down the right, but the Brazilian is intercepted by Zoro.
35' Andreolli makes a sliding clearance from Lavecchia's dangerous ball into the box.
33' Toldo makes a crucial punched save from D'Aversa's 20-yard strike.
29' Pestrin crashes wide a low shot from distance.
26' Zoro fires wide his 25-yard effort from a free kick.
25' Messina break after D'Aversa's clearance from the corner, but Di Napoli runs out of steam and Inter regain possession.
24' Grosso has a left-wing cross blocked. Another corner for the Nerazzurri.
22' There will be a second corner as Parisi heads behind Recoba's cross.
21' Inter win their first corner of the game as Giallombardo heads behind a Gonzalez cross.
19' Parisi slots narrowly wide of the right post after Inter clear a Candela left-wing free kick.
15' Another block by Andreolli, this time from Masiello's diagonal shot. Toldo fails to keep the ball in play, and Messina win a corner, but nothing comes of it.
12' Recoba has a go from thirty yards. The Uruguayan's effort is over the bar.
11' Andreolli and Cordoba block balls into the box from Di Napoli and Parisi.
10' Andreolli blocks a thunderous shot from Masiello. Apart from that, not much else has happened in these opening minutes.
4' Alvaro Recoba has a 35-yard free kick saved by Messina keeper Paoletti.
1' Welcome to the San Filippo in Messina for Inter's Serie A Week 35 clash against the Giallorossi.
1' Celi blows his whistle, and the Giallorossi kick off. FORZA INTER!!!
1' It's a warm afternoon on the north-eastern coast of Sicily, with a temperature of 24 degrees Celsius.
1' Inter: 1 Toldo; 16 Burdisso, 2 Cordoba, 77 Andreolli, 11 Grosso; 91 Mariano Gonzalez, 15 Dacourt, 4 Zanetti, 21 Solari; 10 Adriano, 20 Recoba.
1' Messina: 1 Paoletti; 8 Zoro, 32 Candela, 27 Zanchi, 19 Parisi; 77 Lavecchia, 4 Pestrin, 23 D'Aversa, 14 Giallombardo; 11 Di Napoli, 17 Masiello.
1' Victory over the Sicilians will see Mancini's team better the all time record of 14 away victories on one Serie A championship, set by Juventus in 1949/50 and matched by the Nerazzurri this season.
Minute Text commentary
49' Full time. Inter beat Messina 1-0 and set a new all time record of 15 away wins in one Serie A championship.
48' Vieira misses a good chance for a second, slotting wide Grosso's cross from inside the box.
45' 4 minutes of overtime to play.
42' Adriano crashes over from 25 yards.
42' The Sicilians make their final switch: Floccari for Pestrin.
41' Paoletti blocks Crespo's spectacular cross from the left to deny Adriano.
36' Vieira booked for tripping Lavecchia.
35' Bolchi makes his second substitution. Iliev replaces the injured Masiello.
34' Paoletti gets to the edge of his area and makes a sliding clearance to deny Adriano a chance from Zoro's wayward back pass.
31' Messina bring on De Vezze for Zanchi.
31' Figo cuts inside from the left and blazes just past the right post from 20 yards. What a goal that would have been.
30' Patrick Vieira returns after a long layoff. The France captain replaces Mariano Gonzalez.
27' GOOOAAALLLL!!!! Seconds after coming on, Hernan Crespo gives Inter the lead. The Argentine pokes home Burdisso's headed pass from Figo's inswinging left-wing free kick.
27' Mancini makes his second switch. Hernan Crespo makes his return to competitive action. Off comes Santiago Solari.
25' Brilliant penalty save by Toldo from Di Napoli.
23' Masiello booked by Celi.
23' Penalty to Messina after Andreolli is adjudged to have blocked a Giallombardo left-wing cross with his arm.
20' Inter make their first change. Luis Figo is on for Alvaro Recoba.
20' Brilliant one-handed parry at the other end as Toldo palms clear Lavecchia's cross. Burdisso cleans up at the far post.
19' Recoba collects an Adriano ball and unleashes one of his left-foot specials from 25 yards. Paoletti parries.
18' Di Napoli's effort hits the wall. Candela's follow-up volley is wide.
17' Cordoba booked for bringing down Lavecchia in a central position just outside the Inter box. The Colombian will automatically miss next weekend's home match against Lazio.
15' Mariano threads through for Adriano during another Inter counter attack, but Candela intercepts.
13' Inter hit Messina on the break and go close through Mariano Gonzalez who fires wide with just Paoletti to beat.
13' Andreollli blocks a Messina left-wing corner after blocking Parisi's cross.
5' Back in the Inter area, Zanchi pokes wide from a tight angle.
5' Paoletti saves a Gonzalez right-wing cross, with Adriano lurking at the far post.
4' Dacourt, the only outfield player yet to score for Inter this season, goes so close to a goal but the Frenchman's curling effort from 20 yards is inches wide of the right post.
3' At the other end Paoletti plucks a Recoba left-foot shot out of the air.
1' Inter get the second half under way.
1' Toldo blocks a Lavecchia effort from distance.
Recoba
7.15
7.15
Zanetti
7.61
7.61
Cordoba
7.03
7.03
Toldo
8.97
8.97
Adriano
6.25
6.25
Crespo
8.83
8.83
Burdisso
7.15
7.15
Andreolli
6.75
6.75
Solari
6.46
6.46
Figo
8.2
8.2
Grosso
6.69
6.69
Dacourt
7.06
7.06
Vieira
7.25
7.25
Gonzalez
5.54
5.54
Average rating 7.21
3 shots on target 5
8 shots off target 7
10 fouls committed 10
8 corners 4
2 offsides 2
27:25 ball possession 29:37
Messina v Inter

There has never been a draw in six meetings between the two teams in Sicily. Messina have won 1 game (2-1 in 2004/05 Serie A), while Inter have won the other 5 (last win 1-0 in 2006/07 Coppa Italia.

Bolchi v Mancini

Bruno Bolchi and Roberto Mancini meet in a competitive fixture for the first time. Excluding August, May is the worst championship month of the year for teams coached by Bolchi. He has a points per match average of 1.25, with 23 victories, 37 draws and 25 defeats from 85 games.

No Bolchi win since June 2004

The last victory for a team coached by Bruno Bolchi was Ternana's 5-2 win over Venezia in the Serie B championship on 5 June 2004. Bolchi has collected 7 draws and 12 defeats from 19 competitive matches since that date (18 with Ternana and Catanzaro in Serie B, and 1 with Messina in Serie A).

Messina's negative records in Serie A

Messina have won just 5 games after 34 rounds of Serie A matches, 'beating' their worst tally of 6 wins in one top-flight season, in 2005/06. The Giallorossi have already matched their record of defeats in one Serie A season (19 in 1964/65 and 2005/06). Messina have conceded 58 goals in the league so far this term, meaning the Sicilians are just one goal away from equalling the 59 let in last season - their worst performance in a Serie A championship.

No Messina win in 8 rounds

Messina haven't won a league game since their 2-0 derby victory over Palermo on 4 March 2007. They have collected 2 draws and 6 defeats from the 8 games played since that date.

Messina's multiple dismissals

No team has had more players sent off this season than Messina. Eleven Giallorossi have seen red after 34 rounds of matches: Coppola, Parisi, Zanchi and Zoro Kpolo (2 each), and Candela, Cordova, D'Aversa, De Vezze, Iuliano, Masiello and Rea (1 each).

One goalless draw in 2006/07 Serie A

Along with their local rivals Catania, Messina are the only team taking part in this year's Serie A to have played out just one goalless draw.

Cordova's free kicks

Chilean midfielder Nicolas Andres Cordova has scored twice from free kicks this season, to top the list along with Corini (Palermo), Lucarelli (Livorno), Pirlo and Seedorf (AC Milan), Spinesi (Catania), Totti (Roma) and Vannucchi (Empoli).

Inter equal another record

With their victory over Empoli last Sunday, Inter's 2006/07 team have matched the club's record of 27 wins in one Serie A season, set in 1950/51. The all time record for the Italian championship belongs to the Great Torino side, who collected 29 victories in 1947/48, the only Serie A season to be played with 21 teams over 42 matchdays.

Inter chasing new all time record of Serie A away wins

Inter have set a new club record of 14 Serie A away victories this season, bettering the previous record of 11 wins set in 1963/64 and 1988/89. Victory over Messina will see Mancini's Nerazzurri go one better than Juventus, who won 14 away games in 1949/50.

Inter without defeat in 22 away matches

Inter's last away defeat was the 1-0 Champions League loss to Sporting Lisbon on 12 September 2006. The Nerazzurri have since won 17 and drawn 5.

Inter unbeaten away since April 2006

Inter's last league defeat away from home came just over a year ago, on 30 April 2006 when they lost 1-0 at Empoli. Since then the Nerazzurri have collected 14 Serie A wins and 4 draws on their travels.

Inter's second-half form

Inter have improved their results in the second halves of matches this season to earn 25 points, more than any other team taking part in the 2006/07 Serie A championship.

Inter's golden moments

With ten goals, Inter have scored more than any other 2006/07 Serie A team in the first fifteen-minute periods of matches. Mancini's side are also prolific from 46'-60' with 17 goals, and from 61'-75' with 20 goals. Inter are one of four teams to have conceded just 4 goals from 61'-75'. The other three are Empoli, Fiorentina and Roma.

Most prolific team of calendar year

Inter have scored 33 league goals since 1 January 2007 - more than any other team taking part in the 2006/07 Serie A championship.

Burdisso, Solari likely scorers against Sicilians

Nicolas Burdisso and Santiago Solari have both scored 6 goals for Inter since moving to Italy. And both Argentines have scored twice against Messina. The midfielder has also scored two against Udinese.

Disciplinary situation

Disqualified: Morello, Riganò (Messina); Stankovic (Inter)
Cautioned: Candela, Di Napoli, Giallombardo, Iuliano, Rea (Messina); Cordoba, Maicon, Materazzi (Inter)
Banned: Caglioni (Messina)

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(4) draws(0) defeats(1)

MESSINA - Inter warmed up for Wednesday's Tim Cup final first leg at the Olimpico with a 1-0 victory at Messina, who are relegated with three matches left to play.

Hernan Crespo scored just seconds after coming on to give Inter their 15th away win in the league this season - a new all time record.

Roberto Mancini rested a number of Italian champions ahead Wednesday's Rome clash, opting for Toldo in place of Julio Cesar between the posts.

And the veteran keeper showed he is always ready when called into action with a crucial punched save from D'Aversa's 20-yard swerveshot as the home side enjoyed a period of sustained pressure midway through the half.

Alvaro Recoba, who had a free kick saved before firing over in the early stages, went closest to a first-goal goal for Inter in time added on, flashing wide a cross-shot from the left.

The Nerazzurri made the brighter start to the second half and Olivier Dacourt, the only outfield player yet to score for Inter this season, narrowly missed the target on 59 minutes when his 20-yard curler finished inches wide.

Mariano Gonzalez should have opened the scoring nine minutes later but fired wide with just Paoletti to beat.

Messina wasted a gilt-edged chance to take the lead when Di Napoli's penalty shot was superbly parried by Toldo after Andreolli was adjudged to have blocked a Giallombardo cross with his arm.

From a black and blue point of view, the match came alive seconds after the introduction of Hernan Crespo for Solari.

In the 27th minute the Argentine striker, back after an injury, poked home Burdisso's headed pass from Figo's inswinging free kick to put Inter ahead with his first touch of the ball.

Patrick Vieira replaced Gonzalez for the final quarter-hour to make his return after a long layoff, and could have doubled Inter's lead in added time but his slotted effort from Grosso's cutback finished wide.

Messina 0-1 Inter (HT: 0-0)

Scorer: Crespo 72.

Messina: 1 Paoletti; 8 Zoro, 32 Candela, 27 Zanchi (5 De Vezze 76), 19 Parisi; 77 Lavecchia, 4 Pestrin (18 Floccari 87), 23 D'Aversa, 14 Giallombardo; 11 Di Napoli, 17 Masiello (10 Iliev 80).
Subs not used: 71 Cesaretti, 20 Cordova, 21 Alvarez, 28 Bakayoko.
Coach: Bruno Bolchi.

Inter: 1 Toldo; 16 Burdisso, 2 Cordoba, 77 Andreolli, 11 Grosso; 91 Mariano Gonzalez (14 Vieira 75), 15 Dacourt, 4 Zanetti, 21 Solari (18 Crespo 72); 10 Adriano, 20 Recoba (7 Figo 65).
Subs not used: 12 Julio Cesar, 6 Maxwell, 23 Materazzi, 62 Figliomeni.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.

Referee: Domenici Celi (Campobasso).

Booked: Dacourt 42, Mariano Gonzalez 45, Cordoba 62, Masiello 68, Vieira 81.

starting lineups

Paoletti 1 Toldo
Zoro 16 Burdisso
Zanchi 2 Cordoba
Parisi 77 Andreolli
Pestrin 11 Grosso
Giallombardo 21 Solari
Lavecchia 91 Gonzalez
Candela 15 Dacourt
D'Aversa 4 Zanetti
Masiello 10 Adriano
Di Napoli 20 Recoba

substitutes

Cesaretti 12 Julio Cesar
De Vezze 6 Maxwell
Iliev 23 Materazzi
Floccari 62 Figliomeni
Cordova 7 Figo
Alvarez 14 Vieira
Bakayoko 18 Crespo