Thursday, 09 November 2006 22:25:01
MESSINA - Julio Cruz captained the Nerazzurri to a 1-0 Coppa Italia round of sixteen first-leg victory over Messina, scoring the winning goal five minutes before half time.

El Jardinero beat opposing keeper Caglioni with a perfectly executed free kick after a dozen first-half chances for the Nerazzurri to make it five goals this season and ten in the domestic cup.

Ibrahim Maaroufi and Mariano Gonzalez had early chances saved by Caglioni as Inter looked to edge in front from a corner.

Grosso then went close, having a fierce shot blocked by Caglioni before Samuel saw his header saved on the line by De Vezze.

The Sicilians' best chance of a first-goal fell to former Inter player Arturo Di Napoli whose effort forced a foot save from Francesco Toldo before Samuel beat Ogasawara to the loose ball.

On his first start for Inter, academy midfielder Maaroufi went close on the half hour, rattling the angle between bar and post with a shot from the right side of the area.

Messina's keeper kept the Nerazzurri at bay, denying Gonzalez after good approach play from Burdisso, Stankovic and Cruz. Caglioni denied Inter again when he pushed behind Grosso's shot on the turn.

But there was nothing Caglioni could do to stop Cruz's 20-yard free kick from finding the bottom corner to give Inter a deserved lead five minutes before the break.

Francesco Toldo, between the posts for the first time since the Champions League defeat to Sporting on 12 September, kept out efforts from Osagawara, Iliev and Sullo, with Andreolli and Samuel making headed clearances from Di Napoli and Morello as Messina made the more attacking start to what went on to be a low key second half.

Roberto Mancini handed first-team debuts to two players, bringing on Lampros Choutos for Mariano Gonzalez and Attila Filkor for Ibrahim Maaroufi. Leonardo Bonucci, who made his first-team debut in Cagliari v Inter last 14 May, replaced Fabio Grosso in the closing minutes.

Hungarian forward Filkor was presented with a good opportunity in stoppage time but his lobbed free kick hit the Messina wall.

MESSINA 0-1 INTER (HT: 0-1)

Scorer: Cruz 40

MESSINA: 88 Caglioni; 31 Morello, 27 Zanchi, 13 Rea, 19 Parisi; 5 De Vezze (21 Alvarez 55), 41 Sullo (20 Cordova 76), 17 Masiello; 16 Ogasawara; 18 Floccari (10 Iliev 46), 11 Di Napoli
Subs not used: 1 Storari, 77 Lavecchia, 86 Ghosmi, 3 Minetti
Coach: Bruno Giordano

INTER: 1 Toldo; 16 Burdisso, 77 Andreolli, 25 Samuel, 6 Maxwell; 21 Solari, 5 Stankovic, 50 Maaroufi (57 Filkor 80), 11 Grosso (51 Bonucci 86); 91 Mariano Gonzalez (99 Choutos 78), 9 Cruz
Subs not used: 79 Carini, 36 Fautario, 42 Marino, 61 Slavkovski
Coach: Roberto Mancini

Referee: Nicola Stefanini (Prato)

Booked: Morello 39, Parisi 58, Zanchi 77, Rea 85, Burdisso 90+1