Inter Milan versus Palermo – Coppa Italia final: Second half review (Part 1)
After ending the first half with a 1-0 advantage over Palermo, Inter Milan were almost caught out at the start of the second 45 minutes period when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Javier-Pastore-c18082 pulled the strings in the middle of the park for yet another offensive move for the underdogs. In the 47th minute of the encounter, Pastore collected the ball at the edge of the Inter Milan penalty area.
The young Argentine showcased tremendous vision as he found Hernandez with a through ball. The Uruguayan striker then slipped in Balzaretti whose shot was easily collected by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Thiago-Motta-c34897 before finding Hernandez with a precise through pass.
Luckily for Inter Milan, Nagatomo closed in on the Palermo striker and slid in to take the ball away. The Japanese full back tracked Hernandez’s run all the way from his right back position to the left side of the field as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Giampaolo-Pazzini-c14802 tried his luck on Palermo’s goal from around about 25 yards out but Sirigu collected the ball with ease as it was hit straight at him.
In the 54th minute, Samuel Eto’o was brought down by Muñoz near the half way line. The referee spotted Muñoz’s late challenge and duly booked the Palermo centre back. In the 56th minute, Thiago Motta fell to the ground clutching his head as the ball made contact with his face. The Brazilian midfielder was taken off the field and patched up by his team’s medical staff before re-entering the field of play. In the 57th minute, Palermo opted to make an offensive change as Acquah was replaced by Miccoli in the midfield region.
Miccoli’s introduction almost had an immediate impact for the Rosanero as he rose above Nagatomo inside the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan penalty area to send an emphatic header towards Julio Cesar’s goal after making contact with Pastore’s cross. The Brazilian goalkeeper was up to the task as he dove across his goal to tip the ball away for a Palermo corner kick.
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