Final score

1 May 2005 15:00

Inter
31' Vieri
2' Cruz (P)
Siena
Referee: Paolo Dondarini / Linesmen: Gemignani, Di Mauro / Fourth official: Mazzoleni
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
46' It's 2-0 to Inter after a thoroughly entertaining first half at the Giuseppe Meazza.
46' Martins is offside as he runs on to Favalli's long ball forward.
45' One minute of added time to play.
45' Oba has a superb chance for Inter's third goal. The Nigerian races on to a Siena back pass but Tudor manages to intercept and deny him a shot on goal.
44' Vieri fails to connect with Karagounis' excellent ball in from the right and Siena win a goal kick.
43' Inter put together a slick passing move in the Siena half, which ends after Kily mis-reads Vieri's one-two.
38' Veron spots Vieri in space with an intelligent pass square. Bobo's first-time shot from outside the area is caught by Manninger.
36' Martins is tackled by Cirillo on the left after trying to take on two opponents.
34' What a ball by Veron. The Argentine's magnificent long-range pass falls to the feet of Favalli, who shrugs off a challenge from his marker then crosses into the middle. Siena clear.
33' Oba plays wide to Karagounis after a superb pass by Vieri, but the Greek midfielder is intercepted and the Bianconeri attack down the left.
32' It's Vieri's 13th goal this season.
31' BOBOGOL!!!!!!!! Vieri makes it 2-0 to Inter with a far post header from Kily's excellent left-wing cross.
28' Chiesa floats his indirect free kick to the far post. Portanuova's header is caught by Toldo.
28' Free kick to Siena 25 yards out after Favalli brings down Chiesa from behind.
27' Tudor beats Martins to Vieri's low forward pass and Siena build up a move in the Nerazzurri half.
26' Great goalkeeping by Toldo. The Inter number one comes to the edge of his area to block Chiesa's attempt at a lob.
25' Cambiasso's deflected pass to Martins is intercepted by Tudor.
24' Cruz cannot continue and the Inter goalscorer is replaced by Bobo Vieri.
23' Inter counter-attack after a Chiesa offensive. Martins' ball to Cruz is intercepted and the visitors attack back.
22' Karagounis's drive from 20 yards is headed wide by Martins.
21' Mihajlovic's dangerous outswinging cross from the left is headed clear by Pasquale at the far post.
20' Cambiasso's back-heel pass comes off Di Donato and Inter win a left-wing corner.
18' Oba takes on two on the left then passes, but Di Donato beats Kily to the ball.
15' Brilliant inter-play by the strikers. Oba plays a double one-two with Cruz then tries to poke a shot past Manninger but the Siena keeper blocks.
14' Incredible miss by Cruz. The striker receives in the Tuscan area from Cambiasso then from the left edge of the six-yard box flashes his shot wide of the far post.
13' Favalli wins a corner for Inter after a combination with Kily.
12' Superb play by Juan Veron. Brujita plays a perfectly weighted ball over the Siena wall for Oba, but the Nigerian stabs his first-time shot wide.
11' Cirillo brings down Cruz fom behind just outside the Bianconeri box and it's a free kick.
10' From the right wing Giorgos Karagounis floats a ball to the edge of the Siena area. It's too long for Obagol, and Manninger collects.
10' Chiesa's ambitious diagonal shot from the left side of the Inter area is blocked by captain Zanetti.
8' Cirillo intercepts a Kily ball to Martins down the left but the Argentine wins the ball back, enters the Siena box then fires wide of the far post.
6' Enrico Chiesa's effort hits the Nerazzurri wall.
5' Free kick to Siena in a central position 25 yards out for a Mihajlovic foul on Vergassola.
5' Favalli and Martins are several yards offside as Kily and Cruz build up a good move on the left channel.
3' Mihajlovic slips on the edge of our area and Chiesa is set to pounce, but Favalli beats the striker to the ball and boots to safety.
3' That's El Jardinero's ninth goal of the season.
2' GOOAAALLL!!! Julio Cruz sends Manninger the wrong way and finds the bottom left-hand corner with a low shot from the spot.
1' Welcome to the Giuseppe Meazza for this afternoon's Serie A Week 34 clash. It's the hottest day of the year so far in Milan, with a temperature of around 25 degrees Celsius.
1' Penalty to Inter after Martins is brought down in the box by Siena keeper Manninger!!!!
1' Javier Zanetti wins the ball in the Inter half then storms past four Siena players before being brought down.
1' Attacking the Curva Sud, Siena kick off.
1' Siena team news: De Canio has switched from the 3-4-3 line-up in last week's defeat at home to Udinese to a 3-5-2 formation. Ex-Inter player Colonnese returns in the centre of defence, and Tudor and Di Donato both start in midfield.
1' Inter team news: Mancini has reverted to a 4-4-2 formation, with Cruz and Martins up front. Karagounis replaces the injured Ze Maria on the right wing, Cambiasso returns after sitting out last week's match against Messina, and Favalli is back in defence.
Minute Text commentary
47' Inter beat Siena 2-0 thanks to first-half goals from Cruz and Vieri.
45' Two minutes of added time.
44' Manninger catches Mihajlovic's outswinging cross from the left channel.
44' Alberto brings down Kily on the left wing and Inter win a free kick.
43' Taddei's first-time shot from Tudor's ball forward is wide of the right post.
42' Adriano's diagonal shot is blocked by Colonnese and Inter win a left-wing corner.
41' Adriano sets up Vieri with a short pass back to the edge of the Siena area and Bobogol fires over the bar.
40' Another excellent high catch by Toldo, who beats Tudor to a cross.
38' Siena attack back and from close range Maccarone sends an angled shot wide of the left post.
37' Karagounis floats a cross over to Bobo Vieri on the left side of the Siena area. Vieri wriggles free of his marker then fires wide.
36' Adriano replaces Obafemi Martins.
35' Pasquale crosses from the left... Maccarone heads wide of the far post.
35' Adriano is set to come on.
33' Tudor's header from Cozza's cross is wide of the left post.
32' Toldo smothers the ball to deny the Siena attack a chance from Maccarone's cut back from the by-line.
31' Veron is applauded as he makes way for Dejan Stankovic.
31' Cordoba blocks Taddei's left-wing cross and Siena win a corner. Vergassola's 20-yard drive from the corner kick is wide of the left post.
30' Siena attack Inter after Cambiasso loses the ball in midfield. Maccarone's shot from the edge of the box is punched clear by Toldo.
28' Taddei's free kick comes off the Inter wall.
28' Free kick to Siena in a central position on the edge of the Inter box for a Mihajlovic foul on Tudor.
27' Siena replace captain Chiesa with Ardito.
26' What a move by Obafemi Martins! The Nigerian leaves three Siena players for dead then moves a yard wide before sending a diagonal shot into the side-netting.
24' On the touchline Stankovic has joined Adriano and Materazzi for a warm-up.
23' From a central position 25 yards out Tudor shoots several yards wide of the right post.
21' At the other end Toldo makes a great save from Vergassola's deflected shot.
20' Veron plays yet another wonderful ball over the Siena defence to set up Martins, who takes the ball wide then has to cut inside to create space for a shot, but Siena intercept.
19' Toldo is applauded for making a high catch from Taddei's left-wing centre.
18' Another intelligent pass into the Siena box by Veron. Martins is anticipated by Manninger.
16' Siena bring on Cozza for Cirillo.
16' Giovanni Pasquale cuts out Martins' return pass to Vieri.
15' At the far post Enrico Chiesa outjumps Cordoba and heads wide from a right-wing cross.
15' Adriano and Materazzi are warming up on the touchline.
12' Manninger comes out of his area to beat Martins to a long ball forward and the Siena keeper concedes an attacking throw-in.
12' Good defending by Sinisa Mihajlovic, who outpaces Maccarone to a through ball then plays back to Toldo.
11' At the other end Siena win a left-wing corner. Taddei crosses to the middle of the six-yard box. Toldo jumps and catches.
11' Martins is intercepted by Cirillo after an excellent forward pass by Veron. Inter remain in attack and Veron crosses in for Martins but the Nigerian is intercepted again.
9' Cambiasso finds Vieri with a long-range pass to the right side of the Siena area. Bobo's headed pass is intercepted.
8' Cordoba makes a headed clearance from Taddei's cross in from the left.
5' Free kick to Inter 25 yards out on the right for a Chiesa foul on Veron.
4' Cirillo blocks a Favalli left-wing cross and Inter win a corner. But what a superb piece of skill by European champion Karagounis, who set up the full-back.
2' Inter win a free kick 35 yards out on the left wing. Sinisa's cross is headed clear by Taddei.
1' We're under way in the second half as Inter kick off.
1' Siena have brought on Maccarone for Di Donato.
Vieri
8.34
8.34
Zanetti
7.7
7.7
Cordoba
7.64
7.64
Toldo
7.42
7.42
Adriano
7.84
7.84
Martins
7.8
7.8
Karagounis
7.52
7.52
Kily Gonzalez
7.45
7.45
Cruz
7.6
7.6
Stankovic
7.18
7.18
Favalli
6.99
6.99
Veron
8.23
8.23
Cambiasso
8.2
8.2
Mihajlovic
6.92
6.92
Average rating 7.63
5 shots on target 4
7 shots off target 8
14 fouls committed 18
5 corners 2
4 offsides 0
33:23 ball possession 23:05
Mancini v De Canio

The only previous meeting between the two coaches is Reggina's 1-0 victory away to Lazio in the 2002/03 Serie A season.

Disciplinary situation/former players

Inter
Disqualified: Emre, Zanetti C.
Cautioned: Cambiasso, Mihajlovic
Former players: -

Siena
Disqualified: D’Aversa
Cautioned: Falsini
Former players: Cirillo (26 appearances, 0 goals in competitive matches in 2000/01)
Colonnese (80 appearances, 2 goals in competitive matches from October 1997 to June 2000)
Fortin (youth academy from 1993/94 to 1994/95)
Pasquale (57 appearances, 0 goals in competitive matches from July 1999 to January 2005)

Inter equal two historic records

The draw with Lazio in Week 28 was Inter's 17th of the 2004/05 Serie A campaign. The 1-1 stalemate at the Olimpico saw the Nerazzurri equal the club's record of draws in one season (set in 1991/92), and also equalled Bologna's record of draws in one 20/21-team Serie A season (set in 1948/49).

Veron prolific in May

Of Juan Sebastian Veron's 27 goals in official matches in Italian football, 5 have come in games played in May, more in any other month. Veron scored 2 of his May goals in 1996/97, 1 in 1999/00, and 2 in 2000/01.

Adriano always on target against Siena

If Adriano plays on Sunday it will be his fourth match against the Tuscans. The Brazilian has scored in each of the other three games (1 goal for Parma in the first half of last season, 2 goals for Inter in the second half of last season, and 1 for Inter in Siena earlier this campaign).

Chiesa close to Siena scoring record

Enrico Chiesa was Siena's top scorer in their first Serie A season with 10 goals. And with 9 so far this season, the Genoan striker is close to equalling his own record.

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(6) draws(2) defeats(1)
MILAN - Inter beat Siena 2-0 at the Giuseppe Meazza on Sunday afternoon thanks to first-half goals from Julio Cruz (pen) and Christian Vieri. The result puts Mancini's men six points clear of fourth-placed sides Sampdoria and Udinese.

Julio Cruz gave Inter a dream start after Obafemi Martins was brought down in the box by Manninger in the opening minute. El Jardinero sent the Siena keeper the wrong way from the spot and found the bottom left-hand corner to register his third goal in as many games, and ninth of the season.

Unable to continue after sustaining a thigh knock midway through the first half, Cruz was replaced by Christian Vieri on 24 minutes. And it took Bobogol just seven minutes to make an impact on the game, his far post header from Kily's excellent left-wing cross giving the Nerazzurri a 2-0 lead.

Majestic approach play by Juan Veron created numerous chances for Obafemi Martins to increase Inter's lead in the second half, but the Nigerian failed to capitalise. Oba went close again on 71 minutes but found the side-netting after dribbling three opponents.

On a positive note, Brazilian forward Adriano came on for the last ten minutes to make his return to competitive action after the back problem suffered in the Champions League quarter-final return leg against Milan.

INTER 2-0 SIENA (HT: 2-0)

Scorers: Cruz (pen) 2, Vieri 31

INTER: 1 Toldo, 2 Cordoba, 4 J.Zanetti, 9 Cruz (32 Vieri 24), 11 Mihajlovic, 14 Veron (25 Stankovic 76), 16 Favalli, 18 Kily Gonzalez, 19 Cambiasso, 21 Karagounis, 30 Martins (10 Adriano 81)
Subs not used: 15 Carini, 8 Davids, 23 Materazzi, 24 Gamarra
Coach: Roberto Mancini

SIENA: 1 Manninger, 5 Cirillo (35 Cozza 61), 6 Vergassola, 7 Tudor, 10 Chiesa (22 Ardito 72), 11 Alberto, 19 Di Donato (32 Maccarone 46), 21 Taddei, 30 Pasquale, 33 Colonnese, 90 Portanova
Subs not used: 14 Fortin, 3 Falsini, 8 Argilli, 18 Foglio
Coach: Luigi De Canio

Referee: Paolo Dondarini (Finale Emilia)

starting lineups

Toldo 1 Manninger
Cordoba 2 Cirillo
Zanetti 4 Vergassola
Cruz 9 Tudor
Mihajlovic 11 Chiesa
Veron 14 Alberto
Favalli 16 Di Donato
Kily Gonzalez 18 Taddei
Cambiasso 19 Pasquale
Karagounis 21 Colonnese
Martins 30 Portanova

substitutes

Carini 15 Fortin
Davids 8 Falsini
Adriano 10 Argilli
Materazzi 23 Foglio
Gamarra 24 Ardito
Stankovic 25 Maccarone
Vieri 32 Cozza