Inter Milan 2-1 Cagliari

MILAN - Inter brushed aside Cagliari 2-1 at the Meazza but Roma cruised to victory over Torino to keep the Scudetto on ice.

Julio Ricardo Cruz scored his 100th goal since he has been doing his job in Italy to put Inter in front on 22 minutes, Marco Materazzi adding his first of the season after coming on for Stankovic.

Cagliari grabbed a late consolation through Biondini.
Inter were always in control and produced their first chance after just 30 seconds of an enthralling opening ten minutes when Mario Balotelli's shot on the turn missed the target by a matter of inches.

Cagliari, needing points to secure Serie A safety, could have taken the lead in the third minute but Matri shot wide after racing unchallenged into the box.

Mancini's men piled on the pressure and strike partners Cruz and Balotelli both went close before the seventeen-year-old star had a goal ruled out for offside.
Balotelli capped an extraordinary start to the game with a first-time shot from Cambiasso's pass after a defensive mistake by the Rossoblu.

The pressure paid off in the 22nd minute when Cruz' header from Vieira's pin-point pass went in off Bianco.
Inter took their lead into the break after Cambiasso drove wide from close range after Capecchi failed to reach a Cruz cross.

Unrelentless in his search for a goal, Balotelli drew applause for a spectacular shot on the turn that was well saved by Capecchi.
There was no let-up in Inter's domination as Cruz went close to a second in the 76th minute, his low drive finishing just wide.

Materazzi rose at the back post and nodded home Cristian Chivu's brilliant left-wing free kick to double Inter's lead with eight minutes of normal time remaining.
Cagliari midfielder Biondini pulled one back in time added on when his long-range shot went in off Burdisso.

Source: www.inter.it

Inter Milan News ---- Crespo: "Looking forward, not back"

APPIANO GENTILE - Hernan Crespo is confident that Inter can keep their Serie A lead over Roma and secure a third consecutive Scudetto for the Nerazzurri.

"It's the same as it is for cyclists - we have to look forward, because if you look back they overtake you," he told Italian television.

"Unfortunately it's a very delicate period for us. Getting knocked out of the Champions League shook us a bit, but the old Inter will return now."
He hasn't played as much as in previous seasons, but Hernan still has the chance to make a decisive contribution in the last seven rounds of the campaign. "I might have been selected less than I wanted, but this is right and it's normal," he said.

Inter travel to Bergamo on Sunday, while the Giallorossi host Genoa in their second consecutive home game following the midweek Champions League defeat to Manchester United. "Roma have a lot of 'enemies' because there are other teams behind them, so they have to be careful too," admitted Crespo.

"As for us, we just have to think about ourselves and get back to winning."

source: www.inter.it