Final score

15 December 2002 15:00

Inter
26' (2nd half) Kallon
Atalanta
Referee: Paolo Bertini / Linesmen: Mitro, Camerota / Fourth official: Calcagno
Minute Text commentary
45' 1 minute of stoppage time.
44' Dabo tries from 30 yards out. No problem for Toldo.
43' Recoba curls the free kick on target and forces Taibi to punch clear.
42' Di Biagio creates confusion in the Atalanta defence, then Emre wins a free kick for the Nerazzurri 25 yards out.
39' Fancy footwork from Crespo in the box, but he unintentionally trips Zauri before passing to Emre. Free kick to the visitors.
34' Di Biagio heads Recoba's corner just wide of the post.
33' From the edge of the box, Zanetti severely tests Taibi with a rocket-propelled shot. The Atalanta keeper pulls off another good save.
32' Adani combines welll with Zanetti down the right, the curls a cross into the six-yard box which is caught by Taibi.
28' Adani rifles in a superb shot from the distance which dips, but Taibi does extremely well to tip the shot over.
27' Di Biagio picks out Recoba, who runs for 15 yards before passing to Crespo on the right wing. The Argentine makes his way as far as the box and send a diagonal, low shot wide of the far post.
26' El Chino races down the left, but is eventually tackled. Corner. Adani heads Recoba's corner over.
25' Gamarra makes a crucial intervention to prevent Comandini from getting in a close-range header from a Zauri cross.
21' Danger for Inter. Rossini heads a right-wing cross onto Toldo's right-hand post.
20' Emre is back on the pitch.
18' Emre remains on the ground clutching his right leg after a terrible challenge by Dabo. The Turk is stretchered off for treatment.
16' Wonderful approach play by Emre on the right channel. He passes to El Chino after dummying two defenders, then the Uruguayan passes into the box for Crespo, who is anticipated.
12' Emre again. He unleashes an awesome right-footed shot from 25 yards. It zips just wide of Taibi's right-hand post.
11' Emre shows incredible pace with a run down the left channel. Crespo misinterprets the Turk's final pass.
5' From inside the box, Doni shoots on goal. Just wide...
4' From just outside the box, Dabo sends a shot just over Toldo's bar.
2' Adani heads to Recoba, who plays a first time pass for Crespo. The Argentine is held in the box, but no penalty is given.
1' Welcome to the San Siro for Inter vs. Atalanta. Crespo and Recoba get today's Serie A match underway after a minute's silence in memory of the Atalanta doctor, who died last Sunday.
Minute Text commentary
49' That's it. 1-0 to Inter.
48' Crespo booked for time-wasting.
47' Crespo plays a neat back-heel on the edge of the box for Kallon. But the understanding isn't there.
46' Cuper brings on Farinos for Recoba.
45' 3 minutes added on at the end of the second half.
41' Recoba plays a splendid ball through to Crespo, who is anticipated.
40' Substitute Pinardi sends a shot over the Inter crossbar.
39' Atalanta close to an equaliser. Rossini fails to convert a headed pass by Doni.
38' Nerazzurri on the break. Recoba combines with Crespo and Almeyda. Taibi clears the danger.
37' Inter substitution - Emre makes way for Guly.
36' Atalanta substitution - Dabp off, Pinardi.
35' Toldo neutralises a header from Rossini.
32' Miraculous save off the line from a Rossini shot by Toldo.
30' Zanetti makes a trademark run down the right. The Inter captain crosses from the by-line, but Taibi collects. At the other end, Rossini heads a Gautieri cross way over.
28' Vavassori makes another switch - Gautieri on for Foglio.
27' Atalanta substitution - Zauri off, Bellini on.
26' GOOOOAAAL!!! Kallon turns, fools an opponent and fires home a spectacular shot.
23' Tactics: Adani moves to left-back, Zanetti takes up a position on the right. Recoba is just behind Kallon and Crespo and in front of the three-man midfield (Di Biagio, Almeyda and Emre).
22' Inter substitution - Pasquale is replaced by Kallon.
20' Di Biagio thunders a free kick from the left channel straight onto the Atalanta wall. Seconds later, Gladiator rifles in a shot from the other side of the pitch which finishes wide of the far post.
17' Superb play by Emre and Recoba. The Turk nutmegs an opponent, then passes to Recoba inside the box. El Chino takes on a man then fires a shot in at the near post. Taibi saves.
14' Oooohhh! Recoba curls a left-footed free kick from 30 yards just wide of Taibi's left-hand post.
11' Rossini is booked for protesting.
9' Almeyda tries from the distance. Just over.
7' Another corner to Inter. This time, Taibi blocks a close-range header from Crespo, who urges the Curva Nord to give more support.
6' Gamarra rises above the Atalanta defence to meet a Recoba corner from the right wing, but Taibi continues to impress with a save.
5' Emre dances past three opponents before falling to the ground just inside the Atalanta penalty area.
4' El Chino makes a run down the middle, but is stopped on the edge of the box by Carrera.
3' Atalanta kick off the second half. No changes to the two sides.
2' 0-0 after forty-five minutes. See you in the second half... In the meantime, why not sign up for Inter's English-language newsletter? Here's the link: http://www.inter.it/cgi-bin/profilazione/registrazione1.cgi?L=en
1' Di Biagio is booked for a foul from behind on Dabo.
Di Biagio
6.46
6.46
Recoba
6.09
6.09
Zanetti
7.13
7.13
Farinos
6.16
6.16
Guglielminpietro
6.1
6.1
Emre
8.5
8.5
Toldo
7.52
7.52
Kallon
8.27
8.27
Pasquale
6.53
6.53
Almeyda
6.59
6.59
Gamarra
6.92
6.92
Adani
6.45
6.45
Cannavaro
6.94
6.94
Crespo
6.63
6.63
Average rating 6.88
5 shots on target 2
6 shots off target 3
16 fouls committed 17
9 corners 2
1 offsides 5
31:42 ball possession 27:27
Previous meetings between Vavassori and Inter

There are four previous meetings between the current Atalanta coach and Inter sides. The Nerazzurri have won on three of those occasions, while Vavassori registered a win from the other match.

In detail:

2000/01 Serie A Atalanta-Inter 0-1 0-3
2001/02 Serie A Atalanta-Inter 2-4 2-1

Previous meetings between Cuper and Atalanta

Cuper has faced Atalanta on two occasions, both last season.

In detail:

2001/02 Serie A Inter-Atalanta 1-2 4-2

Previous meetings between Cuper and Vavssori

The two coaches have met on two occasions, both last season.

In detail:

2001/02 Serie A Inter-Atalanta 1-2 4-2

Javier Zanetti close to record for minutes played in 2002

Inter captain Javier Zanetti has played 45 official matches for Inter in 2002. The Argentine is one match behind AC Milan's Kaladze, who has played 46 games this year, but is well ahead in terms of minutes played - 4004 so far. In second place for the number of minutes played is another Nerazzurri player - Toldo with 3958 minutes.

Inter on target in 14 consecutive home matches

Between the Serie A and the Champions League, Inter have scored in 14 consecutive matches, totalling 27 goals. The last time the Nerazzurri failed to score in an official match played at the San Siro was on 7 April 2002 in the UEFA Cup - Inter 0-1 Feyenoord, while the last time the Milanese side failed to score at home in a Serie A match was Inter 0-0 Torino on 2 February 2002.

Serie A match no. 2300 for Inter

Inter (together with Juventus, the only other omnipresent team in the Italian top flight), play their 2300rd Serie A match this Sunday. The first match was Livorno 1-2 Inter on 6 October 1929. Since that date, Inter have registered 1107 victories, 662 draws and 530 defeats, with 3822 goals scored and 2385 let in.

Atalanta close to 500th draw in Serie A

With the 1-1 draw away to Reggina, Atalanta have now drawn 499 Serie A matches. Atalanta's first stalemate in the Serie A was their first match of the 1937/38 season - Genoa 0-0 Atalanta on 12 September 1937.

Gautieri up against favourite target Toldo

Carmine Gautieri, who has scored 57 goals in his professional playing career (22 in the Serie A ), counts Nerazzurri keeper Francesco Toldo among his favourites targets. Gautieri has put 3 goals past Toldo , 1 in Fiorentina 4-1 Perugia (1996/97 Serie A ), and 2 in Piacenza 3-2 Inter (2001/02 Serie A ). That double strike last season was Gautieri's first brace in the top flight.

Vieri top scorer in 2002, Inter most prolific Serie A side

However the last 180 minutes of Serie A football go before the winter break, it looks like Christian Vieri will be Serie A top scorer of 2002. The Inter striker is currently in first place with 23 goals this year, 6 in front of Alex Del Piero, who lies in second place with 17 goals.
Inter are on top of the table for goals scored in the Serie A in 2002. The Nerazzurri (59 goals scored), currently lead Juventus (58), and Lazio and Roma (57).

wins(44) draws(11) defeats(9)
MILAN- Inter bagged three more priceless points with a well-earned 1-0 victory over Atalanta at the San Siro. Second-half sub Mohamed Kallon scored the only goal of the game in the 71st minute with a superb shot after turning and beating a man on the edge of the box.

Crespo and Recoba kicked off today's Serie A match between Inter and Atalanta after a minute's silence in memory of the Atalanta doctor Walter Polini, who died last Sunday.

One-way traffic in the first half saw Argentine striker Hernan Crespo receive a plethora of scoring opportunities from his team-mates, but he was anticipated on almost every occasion by an astute Atalanta back four.

After early attempts on goal by Dabo and Doni, Emre produced the Nerazzurri's first real chance of the match in the 12th minute, his 25-yard right-footed bullet zipping inches wide of Taibi's right-hand post.

Following some wonderful approach play on the right channel minutes later, Emre passed to El Chino, who after dummying two defenders, played the ball into the box for Crespo, who was anticipated.

The Bergamo Nerazzurri went close to an opener in the 21st minute when Rossini glanced a right-wing cross onto the outside of Toldo's right-hand post. Gamarra, oustanding for Inter, was called into action shortly after to prevent Comandini from getting in a close-range header from a Zauri cross.

The rest of the half belonged to Inter and the visitors had Taibi to thank for pulling off a series of crucial saves, most noticeably from Daniele Adani's 30-yard rocket in the 28th minute. The opening period ended on a negative note for the Nerazzurri when Di Biagio was yellow-carded in stoppage time for a challenge from behind on Dabo.

The second half began as the first had ended, with Inter in full command. But the goal just wouldn't come despite near misses from Almeyda, Di Biagio and El Chino.

Worthy of note was some superb play by Emre and Recoba, who continued to delight the San Siro with their trickery. In the 62nd minute, the Turk nutmegged an opponent on the left wing, then passed to Recoba inside the box. El Chino took on a man before shooting at the near post. But it was going to take something special to beat Taibi.

Cuper made the vital switch in the 67th minute, replacing left-back Pasquale with Kallon. The Sierra Leonian striker repaid the Inter coach almost instantly with the match winner in the 71st minute. After receiving a pass to the edge of the area from Crespo, Kallon picked his spot before sending a superb effort into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Inter survived a late onslaught of Atalanta pressure to hold onto the slender lead and retain their place among the Serie A front runners.

starting lineups

Toldo 1 Taibi
Zanetti 4 Dabo
Emre 5 Berretta
Crespo 9 Zauri
Cannavaro 13 Rossini
Di Biagio 14 Natali
Adani 15 Carrera
Recoba 20 Doni
Gamarra 24 Zenoni
Almeyda 25 Comandini
Pasquale 26 Foglio

substitutes

Fontana 12 Calderoni
Kallon 3 Rustico
Farinos 8 Pinardi
Guglielminpietro 11 Zini
Beati 21 Bellini
Franchini Gautieri
Napolitano Bianchi