Final score

3 February 2010 20:45

Inter
34' Milito
Fiorentina
Referee: Paolo Tagliavento / Linesmen: Romagnoli, Niccolai / Fourth official: Morganti
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
47' Half time at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Diego Milito's close-range strike in the 34th minute separates the two teams.
47' Mario Ariel Bolatti, the Argentine who made a name for himself by scoring the goal that saw Argentina qualify for the World Cup, fires wide from 25 yards - his first major contribution in his first start for Fiorentina.
45' The fourth official signals two minutes of added time.
45' Balotelli's bullet header from Sneijder's left-wing corner is cleared off the line by Pasqual. Crucial clearance that one, as Frey was beaten.
44' Sneijder appears to be kicked from behind after receiving from Muntari. Plays continues for a few moments before Tagialvento blows his whistle and awards the free kick. It's taken by Sneijder, whose curling cross is headed over by Pasqual for a corner.
40' Materazzi picks out Maicon on the right and the wing-back tests Frey with an angled shot.
38' A right-wing free kick form Vargas dips dangerously on target, forcing Toldo into a tipped save. Fiorentina fail to make the corner count.
36' Viola close to a quick equaliser as Gilardino plays low into the area for Vargas who drives his low shot wide of the far post. This game has sprung to life after a sluggish start.
34' That was Diego's 15th goal in 27 games for Inter. What a strike rate!
34' GOAL!!!!!!! David Santon plays through to Mario Balotelli who gets behind Natali and passes low into the six-yard box for Diego Milito to slot home. INTER 1-0 FIORENTINA.
33' Another chance for Vargas. The Peruvian receives in a central position and curls a shot on target. Francesco Toldo makes a comfortable save.
32' Inter hit Fiorentina on the break and win a corner. Sneijder's inswinging cross from the left is caught by Frey.
31' Vargas receives on the left-edge of our area and unleashes a fierce shot. Lucio blocks at close-range.
29' Chance for Milito. El Principe beats the offside trap and takes Muntari's through ball to the edge of the box before firing at Frey.
28' Another Maicon-Balotelli combination. This time, Maicon gets a cross in from the right but it's too high for Milito and Fiorentina clean up on the far side.
27' Nice try by Maicon. The Brazilian lays off to Balotelli on the right and forces Frey into a punched block with a first-time shot from the Italian's return pass.
24' Inter close to an opener. Sneidjer goes through on goal and sees his angled shot deflected wide after referee Tagliavento waves play on following a foul on Balotelli.
23' Balotelli plays in his former Primavera team-mate Santon after holding off a challenge from Comotto on the left, but the Inter defender is intercepted in the area.
20' Another Viola shot, albeit a disappointing one as Vargas drags his low shot way wide.
19' Chance for Fiorentina. Riccardo Montolivo rifles wide of Toldo's left-hand post from 25 yards after a weaving run by Santana.
17' Lucio looks for Milito with a long ball into the Viola area. Gamerbini gets there first and calmly slots back to his keeper.
16' Materazzi's cross from the left becomes a shot. It's over Frey's crossbar.
14' Sneijder receives from Muntari and finds Santon down the left. The young left-back is closed down and dispossessed by Santana.
13' Two Azzurri combine as Gilardino feeds through to Montolivo, but Lucio forces the midfielder wide.
12' Gilardino plays in Vargas with a delightful flick but Maicon is right behind him and Fiorentina are forced to backtrack.
8' Fiorentina's Peruvian attacking midfielder Vargas floats in a deep cross from a free kick. Materazzi is first to the ball and the Italian makes a headed clearance.
6' Balotelli nods a Muntari pass into the path of Milito but the Argentine is dispossessed by Natali as he looks for a way into the box.
3' The Viola attack back and Gilardino plays through to Montolivo who has his back to goal and can't get a shot in.
2' Inter press Fiorentina from the start and Maicon whips in a cross from the right that sails over the head of Milito. Muntari gets in behind the defenders but can't prevent a goal kick for the visitors.
1' Fiorentina have twice gone on to lift the Coppa Italia after meeting Inter at the semi-final stage. But those victories (one in 1965/66 and the other in 1995/96), are well and truly in the past.
1' Away we go in Milan as Inter kick off. FORZA NERAZZURRI!!!!!
1' Inter: 1 Toldo; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio, 23 Materazzi, 39 Santon; 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso, 11 Muntari; 10 Sneijder; 22 Milito, 45 Balotelli.&#8232;<br>Subs: 21 Orlandoni, 2 Cordoba, 7 Quaresma, 8 Thiago Motta, 15 Krhin, 17 Mariga, 27 Pandev. <br><br> Fiorentina: 1 Frey; 25 Comotto, 5 Gamberini, 14 Natali, 23 Pasqual; 24 Santana, 18 Montolivo, 28 Bolatti, 19 Gobbi; 6 Vargas; 11 Gilardino.<br>&#8232;Subs: 35 Avramov, 8 Jovetic, 16 Felipe 21 Babacar, 22 Ljajic, 29 De Silvestri, 32 Marchionni.
1' We got to this stage of the competition with 1-0 and 2-1 victories over Livorno and Juventus. Tonight's visitors edged out Chievo and Lazio on their way to the semis with a pair of 3-2 wins.
1' Want some more positives? Fiorentina haven't scored in their last five matches against us, while Viola coach Prandelli has managed only one win in 19 meetings with Inter, and his teams have let in goals in every visit (ten of them in total) to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
1' Here are some far more relevant statistics: we're on a run of seven straight home wins, we're unbeaten at home in all competitions since November 2008, and we're unbeaten at home in Italy's cup competition since December 2002.
Minute Text commentary
49' Full time. Inter beat Fiorentina 1-0 in the first leg of our Tim Cup semi-final.
49' Milito returns the compliment with an inviting pass for Pandev, but the Macedonian shoots wide.
48' Pandev pokes through to Milito as Inter launch one final counter-attack, but his pass is too long for El Principe.
47' Jovetic pounces on a loose clearance from that corner and blazes over the bar.
47' Here he is, ladies and gentlemen: MacDonald Mariga. Our new Kenyan midfielder comes on for his debut, with Sneijder coming off.
46' Materazzi cuts out Marchionni's dangerous low cross from the right and concedes a corner.
45' There will be three minutes of injury time.
44' Javier Zanetti reads to perfection Montolivo's pass for Jovetic and pokes out for a corner to deny the Montenegrin fantasista a clear run on goal.
43' Diego Milito heads away a curling free kick from Vargas as Fiorentina look to snatch that all-important away goal ahead of the return leg.
38' Fiorentina make their final change. Serbian youngster Adem Ljajic replaces Manuel Pasqual.
37' Lucio is booked for protesting.
36' Marchionni wriggles free on the edge of the area and latches onto Gilardino's through pass but the flag goes up for offside.
32' Inter win a free kick in Wesley Sneijder territory. The Dutchman's brilliant curling shot is a whisker wide of Frey's right-hand post.
30' Substitution number two for the Viola. Prandelli withdraws Santana who is replaced by Marco Marchionni.
29' A third chance in as many minutes for the visitors as Vargas flashes wide his 25-yard effort.
28' Gigliati on the attack again as Pasqual picks up the ball on the left and floats a cross-shot high over Toldo's left-hand post.
27' Jovetic gains a yard on Maicon and fires a 25 yard shot on target. Easy save for Toldo.
24' Sneijder's left-wing free kick finishes on the roof of Frey's net.
24' Another yellow card. Gamberini sees his name scribbled in Tagliavento's book for a tactical foul on Pandev on the left wing.
23' And it's Mario Balotelli's last slice of the action. On comes Thiago Motta.
23' Pasqual is yellow-carded for a foul on Balotelli. It's the first booking of the match.
20' Montolivo heads away Sneijder's right-wing corner and Fiorentina launch a counter-attack. Pandev brings it to an end with a hooked clearance from the edge of his own area.
18' Completely unmarked in the area, Jovetic gets on the end of Pasqual's left-wing cross and heads straight at Toldo.
17' Toldo is quick off his line to thwart Jovetic after a one-two between the Fiorentina sub and captain Montolivo.
13' Fiorentina bring on Stevan Jovetic for Massimo Gobbi.
12' Goal disallowed. Pandev's first shot is parried away by Frey. Milito pounces and fires into the back of the net but the flag goes up for offside, Sneijder the culprit.
9' Inter hit the Viola on the counter and Frey dives to his right to save an effort from Milito that spins off Pasqual.
5' Maicon sets free Pandev after a wasted free kick by Vargas. The Macedonian powers forward and lays off for Milito but Vargas gets back and makes a headed interception.
3' Balotelli bursts into the box from the left, turns Gamberini and creates space for a shot, but balloons his effort into the Curva Sud.
1' José Mourinho replaces Sulley Muntari with Goran Pandev.
1' Gobbi races onto Vargas' pass through Maicon's legs as the Gigliati make an attacking start to the second period. Fiorentina work the ball to Santana who sees his shot saved by Toldo.
1' Fiorentina get the second half going.
Zanetti
8.1
8.1
Materazzi
8.2
8.2
Toldo
6.6
6.6
Cambiasso
7.04
7.04
Maicon
6.57
6.57
Balotelli
6.57
6.57
Muntari
6.3
6.3
Santon
7.3
7.3
Milito
7.95
7.95
Motta
5.98
5.98
Lucio
7.32
7.32
Sneijder
7.52
7.52
Pandev
7.17
7.17
Mariga
6.64
6.64
Average rating 7.09
5 shots on target 3
4 shots off target 6
0 fouls committed 0
4 corners 4
4 offsides 3
28:15 ball possession 28:54
Mourinho v Prandelli / Fiorentina

José Mourinho is unbeaten against Cesare Prandelli and Fiorentina, with 2 wins (both at home) and a draw from three games. Inter have kept clean sheets in all three matches.

Details:
2008/09 Serie A Inter-Fiorentina 2-0 0-0
2009/10 Serie A Inter-Fiorentina 1-0 ----

Prandelli v Inter

Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli has won 4, drawn 2 and lost 13 of his 19 previous meetings with Inter. At the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza he has won 1, drawn 1 and lost 8. That sole away win came on 2 January 1994 in his first season in Serie A, when the Atalanta side he co-coached with Valdinoci won 2-1. Prandelli's teams have conceded in all 10 away games against Inter, letting in a total of 17 goals.

Details:
1993/94 Serie A Atalanta-Inter 2-1 2-1
1997/98 Serie A Lecce-Inter 1-5 ----
1999/00 Serie A Verona-Inter 1-2 0-3
2001/02 Serie A Venezia-Inter ---- 1-2
2002/03 Serie A Parma-Inter 1-2 1-1
2003/04 Serie A Parma-Inter 1-0 0-1
2005/06 Serie A Fiorentina-Inter 2-1 0-1
2006/07 Serie A Fiorentina-Inter 2-3 1-3
2007/08 Serie A Fiorentina-Inter 0-2 0-2
2008/09 Serie A Fiorentina-Inter 0-0 0-2
2009/10 Serie A Fiorentina-Inter ---- 0-1

Inter unbeaten at home in Coppa Italia since December 2002

Inter's last home defeat in the Coppa Italia was a 2-1 loss to Bari on 12 December 2002. The Nerazzurri have since played 23 home games in Italy's cup competition, winning 18 and drawing 5.

Inter chasing eighth home win in a row

The Nerazzurri go into their cup semi-final first leg against Fiorentina on the back of seven straight home wins against Fiorentina (1-0 in Serie A), Rubin Kazan (2-0 in Champions League), Livorno (1-0 in Coppa Italia), Lazio (1-0 in Serie A), Siena (4-3 in Serie A), AC Milan (2-0 in Serie A) and Juventus (2-1 in Coppa Italia). The last team to come away from San Siro unbeaten was Roma (1-1 in Serie A on 8 November 2009).

No Inter home defeat in all competitions since November 2008

Inter are unbeaten at home since 26 November 2008 when they lost 1-0 to Panathinaikos in the Champions League. The Nerazzurri have since played 33 home games, winning 24 and drawing 9.

Fiorentina through to final after previous semis against Inter

Fiorentina face Inter in a Coppa Italia semi-final for the third time in their history. On the previous two occasions the Viola have gone on to reach the final and lift the cup. In 1965/66 the Tuscans beat Inter 2-1 over one leg in Florence, beating Catanzaro 2-1 after extra time in the final in Rome. Over two legs in 1995/96 the Gigliati won 3-1 at home and 1-0 away. They faced Atalanta in a two-legged final, winning 1-0 at home and 2-0 in Bergamo.

No Viola goal against Inter in almost six games

The last Fiorentina player to score against Inter was Luca Toni in the fifth minute of their 3-1 defeat in Milan on 21 January 2007. The Viola have since played five league games against Inter without scoring a single goal.

Fiorentina set for 300th match in Coppa Italia

Wednesday's semi-final first leg at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza is Fiorentina's 300th match in the Coppa Italia. Their first was an 8-0 home win over Sestrese on 26 December 1935 - still their biggest victory in the competition. On that occasion Nekadoma and Romagnoli scored hat-tricks, with Mannelli netting a brace. In the Coppa Italia Fiorentina have won 158, drawn 80 and lost 61, scoring 518 goals and conceding 279.

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(3) draws(1) defeats(2)

MILAN - Diego Milito's 15th goal in 27 games proved the difference as Inter defeated Fiorentina 1-0 in the first leg of their Tim Cup semi-final to make it eight home wins in a row.

José Mourinho brought in Muntari for Thiago Motta on the left side of midfield and Milito for Pandev in attack to face the Viola. Otherwise, the Nerazzurri were unchanged from the side that ousted Juventus in the quarter-finals last week.

After a slow start at the Giuseppe Meazza it was the visitors who had the first real chance when Montolivo latched on to Santana's pass and fired wide.

But Inter gradually slipped into gear and Maicon combined beautifully with Balotelli to rip open the Fiorentina defence before forcing a punched block from Frey with a first-time shot.

The goal came eleven minutes before the break when Santon played down the left to Balotelli who left Natali for dead and played low into the six-yard box where Milito was on hand to slot home.

Suddenly, Fiorentina had a game on their hands and Vargas sent his low drive wide after an inch-perfect pass from Gilardino.

More danger followed when Vargas' right-wing free kick dipped on target, but Toldo  was alert to the threat and the veteran keeper tipped over.

Inter came back at the visitors and Balotelli was unlucky not to double his team's lead on the stroke of half time, his powerful header cleared off the line by Pasqual.

Fiorentina made their intentions clear at the start of the second half when Santana saw his shot saved by Toldo, but Inter matched their opponents blow for blow and had a goal ruled out on 57 minutes. Pandev saw his shot blocked by Frey and Milito pounced on the rebound and fired home, only for the flag to go up for offside.

Stevan Jovetic had plenty of chances for Prandelli's side after coming on as a substitute, but failed to deliver as the visitors produced a flurry of chances and Toldo made a series of saves.

Inter soaked up the pressure and went close with a trademark curling free kick that flew inches wide of Frey's right-hand post.

Latest signing MacDonald Mariga stepped out for his first few minutes in an Inter shirt in stoppage time, coming on for Sneijder who left the pitch to applause after another polished performance.

The show wasn't over as Pandev and Milito twice combined to devastating effect in the closing seconds, but a useful second goal didn't come.

The return leg at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence will take place on Wednesday 14 April.

Inter 1-0 Fiorentina (HT: 1-0)

Scorer: Milito 34.

Inter: 1 Toldo; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio, 23 Materazzi, 39 Santon; 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso, 11 Muntari (27 Pandev 46); 10 Sneijder (17 Mariga 90+2); 22 Milito, 45 Balotelli (8 Thiago Motta 68).

Subs not used: 21 Orlandoni, 2 Cordoba, 7 Quaresma, 15 Krhin, 17 Mariga.
Coach: José Mourinho.

Fiorentina: 1 Frey; 25 Comotto, 5 Gamberini, 14 Natali, 23 Pasqual (22 Ljajic 83); 24 Santana (32 Marchionni 75), 18 Montolivo, 28 Bolatti, 19 Gobbi (8 Jovetic 58); 6 Vargas; 11 Gilardino.
Subs not used: 35 Avramov, 16 Felipe, 21 Babacar, 29 De Silvestri.
Coach: Cesare Prandelli.

Referee: Paolo Tagliavento (Terni).

Booked: Pasqual 68, Gamberini 69, Lucio 82.

Att.: 15,307.

starting lineups

Toldo 1 Frey
Zanetti 4 Gamberini
Lucio 6 Vargas
Sneijder 10 Gilardino
Muntari 11 Natali
Maicon 13 Montolivo
Cambiasso 19 Gobbi
Milito 22 Pasqual
Materazzi 23 Santana
Santon 39 Comotto
Balotelli 45 Bolatti

substitutes

Orlandoni 21 Avramov
Cordoba 2 Jovetic
Quaresma 7 Felipe
Motta 8 Babacar
Krhin 15 Ljajic
Mariga 17 De Silvestri
Pandev 27 Marchionni