PINZOLO - Two out of two for Inter, who ended their second friendly of the summer 2011 pre-season with a score line of 6-1, winning against Mezzocorona. However, the fireworks started early this time.
Tomorrow he would have turned 69 years old. Today, once more, Inter remembered Giacinto Facchetti while coming onto the pitch before the starting whistle of the match. The players were wearing a special shirt, a historic one of the “Grande Inter”, with the number 3 on the back and a date that is legendary: 1965.
As a precautionary measure Yuto Nagatomo sat out this match because of a light strain to his left thigh. Pazzini and Samuel were also absent, while Obi, Ranocchia and Sneijder were recovering from their injuries sustained in the friendly against Trentino Team.
Pandev sparkled: two posts and two goals for the Macedonian, who opened and closed the scoring in the first half. Eto'o, Sneijder and Alvarez also found the net. The Argentine scored a brace and has already hit three for Inter.
FIRST HALF – A higher level opponent for the Nerazzurri: after Trentino Team, Inter today faced Mezzocorona, a team that competes in Serie D and one that, after just 1 minute of play, went looking for a goal on a cross from Pelizzari and a right-footer from Tomasi, saved by Castellazzi. However, it was the Nerazzurri that took the lead: set up by Eto'o, it was Pandev to beat Mair and make it 1-0. The Macedonian made his presence felt again by hitting the post twice (in minutes 4 and 6). Eto'o delivered the Nerazzurri’s second goal when Santon beat Pelizzari and crossed to the Cameroonian, who then put the ball through Mair’s legs to make it 2-0.
In the 25th minute there was another highlight in the Samuel Eto'o show; a deadly counter-attack by the Cameroonian took him past Chessa’s slide tackle and into the penalty box where he released a diagonal pass to Sneijder, whose decisive touch made it 3-0. In the 33rd minute Mair pulled off a miraculous save from Eto'o’s powerful right-footer from distance; the ensuing corner was taken by Sneijder and headed in by Alvarez to bring the score to 4-0. Four minutes later Obi released a long-distance missile following a corner, but Mier was up to the task and parried the ball away to safety. Pandev’s second arrived in the 41st minute: Sneijder slid to gather a ball and managed to pass it to Eto’o, who juggled and touched it to the Macedonian to tuck away and put Inter ahead 5-0.
SECOND HALF – The second half started for the Nerazzurri with the same eleven on the field (Gasperini made a change in the 52nd minute, also shifting to a 4-man defence) and with a great play from Alvarez that Mair pushed out for a corner (47). In the 54th minute the Argentine midfielder bagged his second on an assist from Pandev, beating the goalkeeper with a lovely left-footer in the top corner. In the 64th minute Mezzocorona’s goal arrived through Timpone, a right-footer from distance to make it 6-1. Mariga tried to add to the score with a spectacular bicycle kick three minutes later, and Alibec – after a touch from Bessa – tried the same with a diagonal left-footer just wide of the far post, but the match ended again today at 6-1.
Wednesday 20 July will be the third friendly for Inter: an appointment in Rovereto, where Inter will face Cremonese at 17:00.
Inter 6-1 Mezzocorona (HT: 5-0)
Scorers: Pandev 2 and 41, Eto'o 9, Sneijder 25, Alvarez 33 and 54, Timpone 64.
Inter (first half): Castellazzi; Ranocchia, Caldirola, Chivu; Santon, Stankovic, Sneijder, Obi; Alvarez, Eto'o, Pandev.
On the pitch in the second half: Viviano, Bianchetti, Natalino, Faraoni, Crisetig, Bessa, Longo, Mariga, Muntari, Castaignos, Alibec.
Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Mezzocorona: Mair; Allegretti, Felter, Chessa, Pelizzari; Pasquetti; Paracampo, Laforgia; Tomasi, Monti, Mele.
Also appeared: Tait, Franzoi, Timpone, Nervo.
Coach: Stefano De Agostini.
Referee: Valente (Bolzano); assistants: Lenarduzzi and Gravina.
Attendance: Stadio Pineta sold out (over 6 thousand spectators).
