Now that is not a title I expected to be writing, but when yen need your goalkeeper to save a penalty in the 89th minute in order to even get a point, then escape is an appropriate word I think.
FIRST HALF
To deal with Atalanta, Claudio Ranieri fielded the same defence that lined up against Chievo, and then Zarate in attack alongside Milito, with Pazzini on the bench. Colantuono chose the same formation that defeated Parma on Sunday. Atalanta had no plans to slow down and they put the 6-point penalisation out of their minds; without it they would be in second place in the standings.
The first few minutes of play were characterised by fast play and quick exchanges, with the team from Bergamo being the first to threaten; Moralez took a corner and Peluso’s header went safely into Julio Cesar’s hands in the 5th minute. In the 9th minute an inviting pass from Maicon sent Milito into enemy territory, but the Argentine was thwarted, and seven minutes later Zarate’s right-footer went over the crossbar. Stankovic shot high and then picked up a yellow card for a foul on Moralez that wasn’t the hardest of challenges.
After 20 minutes Sneijder took a firm shot with his left, which Lucchini pushed out for a corner. Later, after some build-up play, Stankovic blasted the ball high into the evening sky. The goal came in the 32nd minute from Sneijder’s right foot off of Zarate’s cross; Cigarini was the decisive figure in the goal, however, as he inadvertently deflected the ball to the far post, out of Consigli’s reach. Sneijder then earned a free kick in the 43rd minute, but his ensuing attempt went straight down the centre and into Consigli’s arms. Atalanta’s equaliser arrived a minute later; a cross from Moralez found the head of a leaping Denis and Julio Cesar could only watch as the ball landed inside the far post. The score was an even 1-1 when the referee blew for halftime.
SECOND HALF
A problem with his left adductor muscle forced Julio Cesar to leave the game and Castellazzi started the second half in his place. Atalanta threatened in the 49th minute when Bonaventura’s cross from the left came off of Maicon and had to be batted away by Castellazzi. Stankovic was already on a yellow card and risked an early exit on 52 minutes when his arm hit Schelotto’s face directly in front of the linesman. Eight minutes later Atalanta nearly had their second when an attempt by Schelotto forced an excellent save from Castellazzi; however the Italo-Argentine was booked for his effort, as he had intentionally used his arm to control the ball in the build-up.
At the other end Zarate evaded Masiello to unleash a shot that Consigli parried with a diving save. Pazzini came on for Sneijder and it wasn’t long before “Pazzo” had a chance; in the 64th minute he trapped Lucchini’s clearance from Nagatomo’s cross but then blasted the ball high only a few yards from the goal mouth. Twice Moralez sent a teasing cross into the box, but with no one to meet them. And then Inter – and the effervescent Maicon – put together at least three more chances to add their second goal. First through Stankovic, when he volleyed the ball from the Brazilian’s cross, only to see his effort go just over the crossbar on 72 minutes.
Then came a double chance for Milito: in the 74th minute it took a save from Consigli and an intervention from Masiello to deny “El Principe” from finding the net, and three minutes later a combination between Stankovic and Maicon sent the ball to the Argentine, only to see him chest the ball over the crossbar.
In the 88th minute came the fifth penalty of the season awarded against Inter for contact between Marilungo and Chivu; it was a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge between the two, who both held onto each other, but Valeri had no doubts and pointed to the spot. It seemed a done deal for Atalanta as Denis stepped up to take the kick, but Castellazzi had other ideas and saved with his legs to preserve the result. After 4 minutes of added time Atalanta v Inter ended 1-1.
Inter now have 8 points in the standings.
