Saturday, July 28, 2007

inter

Fortress San Siro

Hello to you. If you have just joined us, we have the quarter-final tie between Inter Milan and Ajax coming up shortly here in the San Siro.

This is a fortress. Inter Milan have not conceded more than a goal at this ground in 3 years. And they have been unbeaten here this season.

Inter is all about the defence. They conceded only one goal, can you believe it, in the Group Stage. Drew 0-0 with Marseille, then beat them 2-0 here in the Round of Sixteen.

But their opponents today, are a stylish attacking outfit. They thrashed Liverpool 4-0 in Amsterdam, beat them again at Anfield. They scored in every game in the Champions’ League this season. So they can score. The question is, can they score against the meanest defence in Europe.

Only one change to the team that beat Sparta Rotterdam 5-0 on Sunday. Ferronomo comes in for Santiago Sarossa at left-back.

Well, this guy’s Italian, he’s played Inter twice last season, and impressed on both counts, I thought. You can’t tell he’s just turned 19. But then again, you can’t tell that Frederic Thiers is 19, Tokiwa Takuro is 20. And the starting eleven today, except for Kafka, is below 25 years of age. And even Kafka himself just turned 25 last month.
A very young team indeed. But they have certainly impressed.

Battaglia. Battaglia to Flannen. Flannen releases Thiers down the right. Thiers cuts in, flicks the ball…Sofronie is through…Last-ditch tackle by Ferrari.

There is very little space, frankly.

This game is pretty much balanced, both sides canceling out each other. Inter, just not giving Ajax the space to play.

Tokiwa. Immediately two players are on him. Lays it back to Flannen.

Tokiwa, all the way to the left to Ferronomo. Ferronomo… no way through. Excellent defending by Inter again.

Very frustrating for Ajax. Inter are content to defend and catch them on the break.

Welcome back to the game. Ajax will make a change. Kafka will come off for Yusuf.

Now, this is interesting. Yusuf might just be the player to break the monotony.

Tokiwa to Yusuf. He moves inside with the ball. Tokiwa again. Tokiwa plays it through the gap! It’s van Kijns. Van Kijns cuts inside…Falls…It’s a penalty!

Briotti is protesting. Yusuf moves in cleverly, creates space behind him, and Tokiwa just plays it into the path of van Kijns. It’s a very good ball. The angle must be absolutely correct. Van Kijns controlled it well, goes into the box, and his run was checked by Briotti. And Briotti just clipped him here on the ankle. It’s a clear penalty.

A lot more movement off the ball from Ajax after Yusuf’s come in, and they got their reward.

That’s how you unlock a tight defence. You move the ball around and wait for the opening.

Flannen will take the penalty. Flannen… cool and composed. Sent the keeper the wrong way. And Ajax have the lead.

22 minutes to go, now Inter have to come out.

Marchionni…tackled by Flannen. Flannen sprays it immediately to Ferronomo. Ferronomo with a wonderful ball forward. Sofronie…Sofronie will get to it. It’s 3 on 2! Sofronie takes on Pablo Canas. Turns him inside out…cuts the ball back…Tokiwa is there! Tokiwa scores!

What vision to pick out Tokiwa. He could have gone for the shot, but he saw Tokiwa coming outside the box, he plays it back. Tokiwa got the space he needs to place it perfectly in the bottom corner.

Inter took risks, left space behind. Ajax won the ball, countered. And the Italian left-back played that wonderful ball into space for Sofronie to chase.

Simple and effective. Ajax are so quick getting forward. Thiers, Tokiwa, Sofronie taking on the two center backs. The defence just had no chance.

That’s the end! Inter’s proud home record is shattered by the upstarts from Amsterdam.

If you ask me, the fullbacks did their job tonight, and probably a bit more. Both were involved in a goal each, and they kept the clean sheet.

Yeah. It will be an interesting game in Amsterdam. Inter have to attack. And will Ajax tear them to shreds by playing on the counter in their own backyard?

Well, I think Foti faces a difficult trip to Inter. He doesn’t really want to go there to attack, and now he has to.

Ajax are no slouch at the Arena. And they are still unbeaten in the Champions’ League.

We shall see, if Inter can produce something at the Arena. Until then, it’s good night from the San Siro. Final score, Inter Milan 0, Ajax Amsterdam 2.

Very Routine

If you have just joined us at the Arena, it is 0-0 here between Ajax and Inter Milan, half an hour to go.

Well, it is been a quiet game. Not much action. Inter have to attack, but they somehow aren’t doing so effectively, while Ajax seem content with things at the moment.

No real breakthroughs from either side, I must admit.

And there it is. Inter has done what they couldn’t do at home. Stop Ajax from scoring. But it is inconsequential. They are out of Europe. Ajax did the job away, and will now go through to the Semi-Final, where either Barcelona, AC Milan or Arsenal await.

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