JAKARTA - Inter played their first friendly of the Indonesia tour this evening against a mixed team including U23 players and the best footballers from the Indonesian league. Samuele Longo gave Andrea Stramaccioni's side a 1-0 lead before half-time then second-half strikes by Giampaolo Pazzini and Luca Tremolada (pictured) completed the scoring to make it 3-0.
The hosts came out determined to do well and started the game at a high tempo. Indeed Andrea Stramaccioni's experimental side almost fell behind in the 13th minute, when Wilson broke forward and unleashed a rocket that cannoned off the underside of the bar. Down the other end Samuele Longo - Inter's most dangerous player in the first half - had a good chance but couldn't quite latch onto the ball inside the box following a corner.
There was a crowd of over 20,000 at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium and they were in raptures when Javier Zanetti bombed down the right flank in the sticky heat. They almost celebrated in the 18th minute: Pazzini was clean through only to be stopped by a wrong offside call.
Raffaele Di Gennaro then dived low to deal with Kurniawan's shot from the edge of the box and was tested even more by Dutra's effort on the half-hour mark.
The deadlock was broken after 36 minutes of play: Ivan Ramiro Cordoba played a long ball up for Longo on the right flank, the youngster latched onto it with a deft touch and rounded the keeping before tucking into an empty net.
He tried to add a second four minutes later but saw his shot saved by the keeper. Angelo Palombo impressed pulling the strings in midfield, Pazzini was flagged for another dubious offside flag and then, after Poli's effort sailed high over the bar, the first half came to a close.
Stramaccioni mixed things up during the break, bringing on Maicon, Jonathan and Coutinho and switching from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1.
Jonathan, operating on the reshaped right wing with Maicon, was unable to take advantage of an early chance when one on one with Saka. But the Nerazzurri's quality was starting to shine through and Coutinho was unlucky not to score with a delightful deft chip on the run, the keeper pulling off a wonder save to push over.
In the 53rd minute Pazzini, who hadn't scored since 13 March, doubled Inter's lead. Collecting Poli's through ball he went for power and was initially denied by Saka, but from the rebound the Italy striker had all the time in the world to pick his spot: 2-0.
Andik failed to get the hosts back in the game in the 62nd minute, then Luca Tremolada (a player who grew up in Inter's youth academy) fed Pazzini again, the striker firing wide before making way for Diego Milito.
Tremolada, who spent last season on loan at Pisa in Lega Pro, soon added a third, and a fine goal it was too: Coutinho threaded an intelligent pass through to the attacking midfielder, who stood up to a challenge from behind before dispatching inside Saka's near post.
Inter were enjoying themselves by now against opponents who seemed to have nothing left in them. Maicon went for a repeat of his derby goal in the 72nd minute, but this time his trademark piledriver came back off the crossbar.
The last chance of the match fell to Esteban Cambiasso: Jonathan fed Maicon on the overlap and the Brazilian's cross was met by the Argentine running from deep and trying to place his header into the corner missing by a matter of inches. It earned him a raucous round of applause though and it won't be the last: the Nerazzurri party will continue in Jakarta until Sunday.
Indonesia Liga Selection 0-3 Inter (HT: 0-1)
Scorers: Longo 36; Pazzini 53, Tremolada 70.
Indonesia Liga Selection (4-2-3-1): Saka (Ridwan 75); Indra (Sigit 75), Pagbe, Dutra, Diego (Saputra 57); Kwon Jun (Rasyd 70), Kurniawan, Andik (Billah 76), Siregar, Karlovic (Agung 80); Wilson (Rahman 84).
Coach: Aji Santoso.
Inter (4-3-3): Di Gennaro; Zanetti (Maicon 46), Cordoba, Dellafiore, Biraghi; Poli (Cambiasso 63), Palombo, Crisetig (Jonathan 46); Terrani (Coutinho 46), Pazzini (Milito 63), Longo (Tremolada 55).
Unused subs: Castellazzi, Orlandoni, Samuel.
Coach: Stramaccioni.
Referee: Faulur Rossi.
Booked: Biraghi, Kwon Jun.
