VERONA - Inter faced Chievo Verona at the Stadio Bentegodi this evening in Week 27 of the 2011/12 Serie A season. The Nerazzurri had several chances to take the lead in the first half (Milito saw his penalty saved and Sneijder's curled effort skimmed the bar) but couldn't make the breakthrough. They kept at it after the restart but their efforts were thwarted until the 87th minute, when Samuel rose to connect with Sneijder's corner and head home. Two minutes later Zanetti's cross was met by Milito in the air to put the match to bed. Inter are back on the winning trail.
FIRST HALF – Chievo took the kick-off and started the match with the bit between their teeth, earning the first corner after 2 minutes. Inter cleared it and from the subsequent attack Stankovic had a dig from a decent position, his shot deflecting off Andreolli. Minutes later the Serbian tried his luck again: another deflection, this time with the ball ending up in the keeper's arms. A penalty was awarded to Inter for Acerbi's handball in the 14th minute following a Sneijder corner. Milito stepped up and struck it powerfully but down the middle and Sorrentino kept it out. Inter went close again in the 19th minute as Sneijder collected a ball from Forlan and curled a delightful effort onto the top of the bar with Sorrentino well beaten. The Nerazzurri continued to press and they carved out another chance on 27 minutes when Maicon played a slide-rule pass for Zanetti to run onto; however, the captain was stopped in his tracks by a well-timed challenge from Andreolli. A minute later another chance fell to Stankovic, the midfielder controlling with his thigh before fizzing a shot just over the bar. The Serbian had two more chances in quick succession in the 40th minute: first a header and then with a scissor kick, both efforts repelled by the Gialloblù's defence. A minute later Chievo showed they were still in the game as Pellissier worked his way into the box and got his shot away, only to be denied by a combination of Lucio and Julio Cesar. Pellissier then claimed he was pushed by the Brazilian defender. On the stroke of half-time Inter might have had another penalty as Sneijder's shot was charged down at close range by Sammarco with the use of his arm, but the referee chose to let play continue. After a minute of added time, the first half ended goalless.
SECOND HALF – There were no changes during the interval. The first opening after the restart was created by Sneijder, who cut inside from the left and dinked a cross to the far post where Poli was a whisker away from connecting at full stretch. In the 55th minute the Dutchman produced a thunderous free kick from some distance that blazed not more than half a yard away from the top corner of Sorrentino's goal. Two minutes later Maicon burst past a couple of opponents and powered his way into the box but, as he prepared to pull the trigger, Acerbi slid in to make a crucial tackle. On the hour mark Di Carlo made his first change of the game, hauling off Sammarco and replacing him with Dainelli. Two more substitutions followed in the 71st minute – Pazzini for Forlan and Hetemaj for Luciano – then Di Carlo played his final card 5 minutes later, bringing on Moscardelli in place of Pellissier. Bradley curled a dangerous free kick just over in the 79th minute before Cambiasso came on with 6 minutes left on the clock, Poli making way. The Argentine almost made an immediate impact. Inter were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box and – after Chievo coach Di Carlo was sent off for protesting – Sneijder curled a fantastic shot over the wall only to see Sorrentino to keep it out with a low dive; Cambiasso was the first to the rebound but couldn't keep his effort down. With time running out Inter finally got the goal their performance deserved in the 87th minute: Sneijder whipped in a corner and Walter Samuel climbed high above everyone else to head back across goal beyond the keeper's reach and into the bottom corner. The Nerazzurri doubled their lead just two minutes later as captain Zanetti drove down the right flank and sent over a great cross for Diego Milito to nod past Sorrentino. Two minutes of added time were played before the referee called an end to proceedings: Inter beat Chievo by two goals to nil, a result that takes them up to 40 points in the table.
Chievo 0-2 Inter (HT: 0-0)
Scorers: Samuel 87, Milito 90.
Chievo Verona: 54 Sorrentino; 21 Frey, 3 Andreolli,
15 Acerbi, 93 Dramé; 10 Luciano (56 Hetemaj 71), 16 Rigoni, 6
Bradley; 7 Sammarco (29 Dainelli 60), 77 Théréau; 31 Pellissier (9 Moscardelli 77).
Unused subs: 1 Puggioni, 12 Cesar, 8 Cruzado, 23 Paloschi.
Coach: Domenico Di Carlo.
Inter: 1 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio,
25 Samuel, 55 Nagatomo; 4 Zanetti, 5 Stankovic, 18 Poli (19
Cambiasso 84); 10 Sneijder, 9 Forlan (7 Pazzini 71), 22 Milito.
Unused subs: 12 Castellazzi, 20 Obi, 26 Chivu, 28 Zarate, 37 Faraoni.
Coach: Claudio Ranieri.
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni (Bergamo).
