Inter Milan 1-0 Empoli

MILAN - Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his nineteenth goal of the season as ten-man Inter held on for a 1-0 victory over Empoli.

The Swedish forward converted a penalty in the first half but Inter were reduced to ten men for the third time in four games when Patrick Vieira was dismissed for a second yellow.

Julio Cesar saved Saudati's penalty in the closing stages as the Nerazzurri held on for a gritty win that moves them eight points clear of Roma, 3-0 losers at Siena.

After a dull start the Week 21 fixture came alive in the 34th minute when Ibra sent Bassi the wrong way from the spot after Stankovic's shot was handballed by Vannucchi.
Six minutes later Vieira was yellow-carded for a challenge on Marianini, and within seconds the France captain was sent marching for protests.

Mancini made a tactical switch at half-time, bringing on Maxwell for Jimenez and moving Chivu into midfield.

The Nerazzurri coach was forced into a second change just after the interval, with Rivas on in place of the injured Stankovic.

Empoli dominated the opening stages of the second half as Inter adjusted, prompting Mancini to bring on counter-attack specialist Suazo for Cruz.

But the Tuscans only real threat on the Inter goal came when Pozzi forced a tipped save from Julio Cesar.

Inter relentlessly looked for a second and almost got their reward when Suazo narrowly missed after being played in by Cambiasso.

Julio Cesar pulled off more heroics seven minutes from time, saving Saudati's penalty after a foul by Materazzi.

Source: www.inter.it