Siena 1-2 Inter: Scudetto!!!! Sunday, 22 April 2007 16:50:00 MILAN - I campioni d'Italia siamo noi! Inter win the 2006/07 Scudetto with a 2-1 victory over Siena as second-placed Roma went down by the same score against Atalanta. Marco Materazzi gave Inter the lead, and scored again from the penalty spot after Negro's equaliser. With 26 wins, 6 draws and just 1 defeat, Inter wrap up their second consecutive Serie A title with five games to spare. Only two teams have managed that feat in Serie A history: Torino in 1947/48 and Fiorentina in 1955/56. Roberto Mancini becomes the third coach in Inter history to win back-to-back league titles after Alfredo Foni (1952/53 and 1953/54) and Helenio Herrera (1964/65 and 1965/66). Materazzi got Inter off to a perfect start at the Franchi, firing in his seventh of the season from a yard out in the 18th minute after Negro's goalline block from Maicon's initial shot. But the home side levelled against the run of play when ex-Lazio defender Negro headed in Rinaudo's headed assist from Galloppa's left-wing cross. Manninger saved two powerful headers from Ibrahimovic as the Nerazzurri looked to increase their lead before the break. If Inter needed a half-time tonic, it came from the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia as the news arrived that Atalanta had taken a 2-0 lead against Roma. Relegation-threatened Siena almost edged in front right after the interval, but Julio Cesar made a crucial one-footed save from Negro's backheeled shot. Inter got the goal they needed on 61 minutes when Materazzi surpassed his self-declared target of seven goals. The World Cup winner sent Manninger the wrong way with a spot-kick that had to be taken twice following a foul by the Siena keeper on Cruz. But Siena, still looking for their first ever home win against the Nerazzurri, weren't giving up and Inter had Maicon to thank for a block on the line from Galloppa. On a hat-trick, Materazzi went close to increasing Inter's advantage but his far-post header from Recoba's pin-point delivery finished wide of the woodwork. Zanetti made a headed clearance from Negro's flicked header, and Antonini crashed wide from close range as Siena launched a late assault on the Inter goal, but the Nerazzurri held on for the all-important victory. Scudetto! Scudetto number 15. A title that will be dedicated to the unforgettable Giacinto Facchetti, who died just five days before the start of the 2006/07 championship. Siena 1-2 Inter (HT: 1-1) Scorers: Materazzi 18, (pen) 61, Negro 21. Siena: 1 Manninger; 2 Negro, 83 Rinaudo, 46 Gastaldello, 21 Rossi; 22 Alberto (7 Frick 66), 14 Galloppa (77 Antonini 76), 8 Vergassola, 23 Eremenko; 9 Corvia, 10 Chiesa (35 Cozza 80). Subs not used: 18 Benussi, 5 Brevi, 6 Codrea, 38 Bartolucci. Coach: Mario Beretta. Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 2 Cordoba, 23 Materazzi, 16 Burdisso (6 Maxwell 51); 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso, 21 Solari (20 Recoba 62), 5 Stankovic; 8 Ibrahimovic (15 Dacourt 70), 9 Cruz. Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 11 Grosso, 77 Andreolli, 91 Mariano Gonzalez. Coach: Roberto Mancini. Referee: Nicola Ayroldi (Molfetta). Booked: Burdisso 48, Manninger 58, Materazzi 62, Vergassola 86. |