ROME - Klose pounced late on to bag the points for the hosts but Inter were unlucky to leave the Stadio Olimpico empty-handed after forging a glut of second-half chances.
The
first half was a tight affair with the two teams cancelling each
other out and opportunities few and far between. Inter came into the game
after the interval but fortune wasn't on their side: Guarin
struck the foot of the post after 67 minutes and four minutes later
Cassano rattled the same patch of woodwork, Nagatomo's follow-up
from the rebound then turned behind by Marchetti's smart reflexes. The winning goal was scored by Klose eight minutes from time. Having wasted a gilt-edged opportunity he showed what a lethal finisher
he is at the second time of asking: Mauri picked out his run and the
German clipped a first-time effort past Handanovic. However, a minute before
the goal, the referee awarded a
dubious free kick to Lazio for a foul by Milito on Biava as
Inter were on the attack with a man over. In added time Ranocchia was held back and then tugged to the ground inside the box by Ciani.
Incredibly Mazzoleni chose not to award a spot kick, a decision which had the Nerazzurri bench understandably in uproar: it was a clear penalty.
Lazio 1-0 Inter (HT:
0-0)
Scorer: Klose 82.
Lazio:
22 Marchetti; 29 Konko, 20 Biava, 2 Ciani, 26 Radu; 19 Lulic
(Candreva 64), 8 Hernanes (Dias 87), 24 Ledesma, 15 Gonzalez, 6
Mauri; 11 Klose (Floccari 85).
Unused subs: 1
Bizzarri, 84 Carrizo, 21 Diakite, 5 Scaloni, 27 Cana, 87 Candreva, 23
Onazi, 32 Brocchi, 25 Rozzi.
Coach:
Petkovic.
Inter: 1 Handanovic; 55 Nagatomo,
23 Ranocchia, 25 Samuel, 31 Pereira (Coutinho 86); 4 Zanetti, 21
Gargano, 19 Cambiasso (Palacio 59); 14 Guarin; 22 Milito, 99
Cassano.
Unused subs: 12 Castellazzi, 27 Belec, 6
Silvestre, 28 Pasa, 33 Mbaye, 40 Juan Jesus, 42 Jonathan, 17 Mariga,
41 Duncan, 24 Benassi.
Coach:
Stramaccioni.
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni (Bergamo).
Booked: Gargano 45, Samuel 52, Konko 66, Candreva 90.
Added time: 2+4 minutes.
