Ibrahomovic Brace Makes It Three-In-A-Row For Inter
Parma 0 - 2 Inter
Zlatan Ibrahomovic came off the bench to score twice and make Inter champions of Serie A for the third consecutive season while their hosts Parma were condemned to relegation. lifted the visitors in a game that was fast and furious in rain-soaked conditions and his goals were celebrated by the thousands of Nerazzurri supporters, despite the ban.
Roma had gone top during the game after taking the lead against Catania while Inter struggled to find a way through, but Parma were unable to hold out and they will now face a spell in Serie B.
Roberto Mancini's team looked to have done their best to throw the title away, but a final day push saw them make it three-in-a-row and the party began on the sodden pitch straight after the final whistle.
Those celebrations were also the end of a huge week of tension, as Inter president's Massimo Moratti's celebrations in front of his Parma counterpart proved.
Parma knew that they had one chance and they handed the responsibility of securing a crucial win to youth team coach Andrea Manzo after sacking Héctor Cúper earlier this week.
The new coach must have felt that his side could have taken the lead after 13 minutes when Stefano Morrone controlled the ball in the area from a corner, but saw his snap shot turned away by the feet of Júlio César.
A minute later and Andrea Gasbarroni's curling cross from the left flank was just too high for Igor Budan and it flew just past the far post.
Parma had lowered their prices to ensure that there would be a great atmosphere and some fans were even able to see the game for as little as one euro, but nobody had banked on the weather.
Incessant rain gradually played its part in the game and in the final minutes the players were having to flick the ball out of the areas where it would not run due the huge pools forming on the pitch.
By then the result of the game was beyond doubt after Parma had enjoyed a long spell of pressing forward without truly impressing on the visitors' goal.
Before the break Luca Cigarini shot wide at one end before Julio nodded past the post at the other with neither keeper having to make any truly noteworthy saves.
Inter's widemen were playing their part with Maicon going forward on one side and Maxwell doing well on the other, while in theb centre Dejan Stankovic tried his luck from long range and young Mario Bolatelli provided a cross which was turned away by the Parma custodian.
Having warmed up during the break, Ibrahimovic was introduced shortly after the restart and after finding his aim with two drives that went beyond the far post, the Swedish striker marked his comeback after nine weeks out with a goal.
Fernando Couto was committed and Ibrahimovic swung past him before sending a low right foot shot beyond Nicola Pavarini and into the far corner of the net.
The celebrations were long and hard, but the game as by no means over with Inter playing their risky strategy of sitting back to defend the slim lead, a system that has cost them dearly before this term.
Parma, however, were unable to use their time on the ball to see how César would handle the difficult conditions and when Inter broke out they always looked more likely to add to the score.
That is precisely what happened in the 79th minute when Maicon escaped down the right and lifted a superb cross to the far post where Ibrahimovic met the ball to volley inside the near post.
It was game over in the race for the title and game over for Parma, whose long descent finally met with an inevitable conclusion as they were relegated along with Livorno and Empoli.
17-04-2008, 01:21 AM
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