Final score

21 December 2005 20:30

Inter
40' (2nd half) Martins
22' (2nd half) Figo
50' Cruz
3' Adriano
Empoli
19' (2nd half) Vannucchi
Referee: Oscar Girardi / Linesmen: Ayroldi, Nicoletti / Fourth official: Stefanini
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
50' Inter go into the break with a two-goal lead thanks to efforts by Adriano and Cruz.
50' GOOOOAAAAALLL!!!!! Julio Cruz puts Inter 2-0 up with a precise right-foot shot from the edge of the Empoli area.
50' Superb defending by Samuel, who dispossesses Almiron in the area then sets up a counter attack down the left.
48' Moro's long-range effort from Almiron's cut-back is well wide of the right post.
47' Buscè receives a crossfield pass from Almiron then crosses out of play.
45' There will be 5 minutes of added time to play.
39' Empoli clear Figo's corner, but fail to mount a counter attack as the Nerazzurri regain possession.
38' Bonetto beats Figo to a Martins cross and heads out for an Inter corner.
38' El Jardinero's grasscutter from 25 yards is well wide of the right post.
37' Julio Cesar is quick off his line to gather Buscè's cross from the right.
35' Free kick to Inter 40 yards out on the left.
33' Empoli bring on Vannucchi for Lucchini.
33' Bonetti sweeps clear after a promising Nerazzurri attack involving Solari.
31' Martins is beaten to Zanetti's cross by Raggi, who heads clear.
29' Veron's disappointing cross from the left goes out of play.
29' Lucchini is booked for a foul on Santiago Solari.
27' The Brazilian keeper catches Riganò's header from the corner.
27' In our half Empoli win a free kick in a central position 30 yards out. Almiron's thunderous effort is pushed over for a corner by Julio Cesar.
26' Berti holds a Cruz header as the Nerazzurri push for a second goal.
25' Raggi makes a headed clearance from a Figo cross to deny Martins.
24' Berti is quick to react to Oba's header from Favalli's cross and palms round for another Nerazzurri corner.
23' Empoli clear Figo's corner.
22' Raggi concedes a corner - Inter's fourth of the match.
21' From close range Cruz heads wide Figo's outswinging cross from the right-wing corner flag.
21' Martins combines well with Cambiasso then wins a corner for the Nerazzurri.
20' Julio Cruz replaces Adriano.
16' Adriano is stretchered off, but the Brazilian has not lost consciousness.
14' Adriano requires medical attention after a clash of heads with Raggi.
14' Adriano's header from Solari's cross is just over.
13' Samuel's flicked header from Veron's left-wing free kick is over Berti's bar.
12' Solari's cross from the left is deflected out for Inter's second corner of the match.
10' Bonetti concedes a corner to deny Figo a shot from Solari's cross.
9' Oooooohhhh!!!! Figo plays a defence-splitting one-two with Oba then sends a low, right-foot shot wide of the left post.
8' At the other end Javier Zanetti blocks a Moro cross and Empoli win the first corner of the match.
7' Ooohhhhhh!!!! Oba Martins controls a long ball forward, sidesteps his marker then creates space for a thunderous 25-yard shot that goes wide of the left post.
6' Julio Cesar efficiently deals with a Empoli cross from the right.
4' That was Adriano's 10th goal in the Serie A this season, and 15th in all competitions.
3' GOOOAAAALLLL!!!! Adriano pounces and slots home after Berti fails to hold a Cambiasso shot from 25 yards.
2' Almiron's powerful shot is high and wide.
2' Free kick to Empoli 40 yards out for a Favalli foul on Buscè
1' Welcome to the Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan's San Siro district for our last competitive match of 2005.
1' Javier Zanetti tackles an opponent in our area as Empoli attack Inter in the opening minute.
1' The Nerazzurri kick off. FORZA RAGAZZI!!!
1' In defence Burdisso replaces the disqualified Cordoba, with Solari in for Stankovic on the left wing. These are the only two changes from the starting eleven that beat Reggina 4-0 on Sunday.
Minute Text commentary
48' Full time. Inter beat Empoli 4-1 thanks to goals from Adriano, Cruz, Figo and Martins.
47' Berti blocks a Cruz shot. Cambiasso fails to convert the loose ball.
47' Figo's cross from the corner flag is headed clear.
46' Martins' angled shot from Cruz's pass is blocked. Corner to Inter.
45' 3 minutes of added time.
43' Roberto Mancini brings on Pierre Wome for Juan Sebastian Veron.
42' Berti comes off his line to beat Figo to Cruz's ball in from the left.
40' GOOOOAAAALL!!!!! Oba Martins receives from Cambiasso and beats Berti with a low-right-foot shot into the bottom left corner. The Nigerian celebrates in typical style with a series of back flips.
39' Mario Somma brings on Gasparetto for Riganò.
38' Berti parries Veron's long-range shot.
38' Raggi intercepts Cruz's quick ball to Martins.
33' From close range Cambiasso lifts Figo's deflected cross over the Empoli bar.
30' With Julio Cesar stranded Samuel gets back and sweeps clear to deny Buscè a shot into a open goal.
29' Cruz takes the ball to the left-wing by-line then cuts back for Martins, whose shot is wide.
26' With The Hammer on for El Indiecito, Veron has moved on to the left wing.
25' Cruz just fails to connect with Martins' cross from the right for what would have been a sure goal.
25' Cristiano Zanetti comes on for Santiago Solari.
22' GOOOOAAAALLLLL!!! Luis Figo restores Inter's two-goal advantage with a low, diagonal right-foot shot from Martins' intelligent ball wide to the Portuguese winger.
19' Vannucchi pulls a goal back for Empoli with a stunning left-foot shot from 20 yards after receiving a short pass from Riganò.
19' Great defending by Burdisso, who beats Tavano to the ball then brings it wide before clearing.
18' At the other end Figo's spectacular first-time shot from Solari's cross is wide of the right post. What a goal that would have been!
17' Cambiasso blocks Almiron's first-time shot from the distance.
16' Cruz hooks Solari's left-wing cross over the Empoli bar.
14' Empoli bring on Lodi for Bonetto.
13' Favalli's cross-shot from the left is caught by Berti at the far post.
8' Inter close to a third goal as Cambiasso directs Cruz's cross on to the right post. Berti gathers.
8' Martins races on to a Figo pass then fires wide from inside the box.
7' Figo's cross from the right is deflected over for a corner.
5' Almiron's first-time right-foot shot from Buscè's pass is held by Julio Cesar as Empoli look for a way back into the match.
4' Buscè's cross from the right-wing by-line is caught by Julio Cesar.
3' Inter are straight back into attack. Figo crosses from the right but there's no team-mate on hand and the Tuscans regain possession.
2' Bonetti beats Martins to a Solari cross and Empoli counter attack.
1' Empoli kick off the second half.
Zanetti
7.15
7.15
Zanetti
7.54
7.54
Adriano
8.51
8.51
Martins
8.23
8.23
Cruz
8.1
8.1
Favalli
7.09
7.09
Veron
8.34
8.34
Cambiasso
8.61
8.61
Burdisso
7.28
7.28
Solari
7
7
Wome
6.46
6.46
Julio Cesar
6.65
6.65
Samuel
7.41
7.41
Figo
8.86
8.86
Average rating 7.66
10 shots on target 5
12 shots off target 2
16 fouls committed 18
8 corners 2
0 offsides 2
35:05 ball possession 24:27
Disciplinary situation

FC Internazionale:
Disqualified: Cordoba;
Cautioned: Cambiasso, Favalli, Stankovic, Veron, C.Zanetti

Empoli:
Disqualified: -
Cautioned: Berti, Bonetto

Somma v Inter

In Week 17 Mario Somma faces Inter for the first time in his coaching career.

Mancini v Somma

The Inter and Empoli coaches meet in a competitive fixture for the first time.

Mancini v Empoli

Roberto Mancini is unbeaten in his six matches against Empoli since becoming a coach, with 5 wins and a draw. Mancini's teams have scored at least once in each of those matches (total 15 goals) and have won all three games played at home.

Details:

2002/03 C. Italia Lazio-Empoli 2-0 2-1
2002/03 Serie A Lazio-Empoli 4-1 2-1
2003/04 Serie A Lazio-Empoli 3-0 2-2

No Empoli away goal for 307'

Empoli last scored an away goal 307 minutes ago, when Tavano netted in the 53rd minute of Chievo 2-2 Empoli on 30 October. The Tuscans have failed to hit the target in the remaining 37 minutes of that match and the entire games against Livorno, Sampdoria and Siena.

No Empoli penalty in 2005/06

Empoli, Parma and Treviso are the three Serie A teams yet to have a penalty awarded in their favour this season.

Somma's black December

Mario Somma has a points per game average of 0.77 from matches played in the twelfth calendar month, with 1 win, 4 draws and 4 wins in 9 games.

Mancini's golden December

With 11 victories, 4 draws and 3 defeats in 18 matches and a points per match average of 2.05, December is indeed a golden month for Roberto Mancini. In the twelfth calendar month this year Inter have won three out of three, with 1-0, 3-2 and 4-0 victories over Ascoli, AC Milan and Reggina.

Inter: no Meazza draw since August

The 1-1 stalemate with Shakhtar Donetsk in Champions League qualifying last 24 August was Inter's last draw at home. Of the 11 competitive matches played at the Meazza since then, Inter have won 10 and lost 1.

Nerazzurri prolific at home

Inter have scored at least once in each of their last 13 home matches (total 29 goals). The last time they failed to score at home was in the goalless draw with Reggina on the final day of last season.

Inter unbeaten in 11 games

The Nerazzurri are unbeaten in their last eleven matches, with 8 victories and 3 draws in Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League fixtures. Inter's last defeat was the 3-2 home loss to Roma on 26 October.

Inter's super subs

Of Inter's 32 Serie A goals in 2005/06, 7 have been scored by substitutes: Cruz (4), Adriano (2) and Cambiasso (1). No other team has scored as many goals with subs this season.

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(13) draws(0) defeats(2)
MILAN - Inter thrashed Empoli 4-1 in Wednesday's Week 17 match at the Meazza and remain eight points behind Serie A leaders Juventus, who won 2-0 at home to Siena.

Adriano and Cruz scored first-half goals, Figo and Martins adding the others after the restart to stretch Inter's unbeaten run to twelve matches.

The Nerazzurri stunned the Tuscans with an early opener in the third minute when Adriano pounced and slotted his tenth league goal of the campaign under Berti after the Empoli keeper failed to hold a Cambiasso shot.

After a clash of heads with Raggi the Brazilian striker was replaced in the 20th minute by Cruz, who increased Inter's lead in time added on at the end of the first period, bringing his tally for the season to double figures with a precise right-foot shot from the edge of the Empoli area.

Inter went close to a third early in the second half when Cambiasso directed a Cruz pass on to the post, but Empoli were soon back in the game when Vannucchi beat Julio Cesar with a stunning first-time strike from the distance.

Luis Figo restored Nerazzurri's two-goal advantage three minutes later with a crisp, diagonal shot after meeting Martins' intelligent ball into space, then the Nigerian completed the scoring five minutes from full time with his seventh of the season, beating Berti with a low-right-foot shot into the bottom left corner.

INTER 4-1 EMPOLI (HT: 2-1)

Scorers: Adriano 3, Cruz 45+5, Vannucchi 64, Figo 67, Martins 85

INTER: 12 Julio Cesar; 4 J.Zanetti, 3 Burdisso, 25 Samuel, 16 Favalli; 7 Figo, 14 Veron (33 Wome 88), 19 Cambiasso, 21 Solari (6 C.Zanetti 70); 10 Adriano (9 Cruz 20), 30 Martins
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 8 Pizarro, 11 Mihajlovic, 20 Recoba
Coach: Roberto Mancini

EMPOLI: 1 Berti; 46 Raggi, 6 Coda, 3 Lucchini (80 Vannucchi 33), 21 Bonetto (21 Lodi 59); 24 Buscè, 27 Ficini, 4 Almiron, 5 Moro; 99 Riganò (9 Gasparetto 84), 10 Tavano
Subs not used: 23 Balli, 15 Vanigli, 18 Serafini, 33 P.Zanetti
Coach: Mario Somma

Referee: Oscar Girardi (San Donà di Piave)

Bookings: Lucchini 29

starting lineups

Julio Cesar 12 Berti
Zanetti 4 Raggi
Burdisso 3 Coda
Samuel 25 Lucchini
Favalli 16 Bonetto
Figo 7 Busce'
Veron 14 Ficini
Cambiasso 19 Almiron
Solari 21 Moro
Adriano 10 Rigano'
Martins 30 Tavano

substitutes

Toldo 1 Balli
Zanetti 6 Gasparetto
Pizarro 8 Vanigli
Mihajlovic 11 Serafini
Recoba 20 Lodi
Wome 33 Vannucchi
Cruz 9 Zanetti