Serie A Week 37: Inter - Siena

Vieira 1-0

Maccarone 1-1

Balotelli 2-1

Kharja 2-2

Highlights

There was a carnival atmosphere at San Siro with the home crowd hoping to see Inter lift the Scudetto with a victory. The Nerazzurri had injury problems going into the game, as Christian Chivu joined Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Luis Figo, Santiago Solari, Olivier Dacourt, Ivan Cordoba and Walter Samuel on the sidelines.

Siena, who had secured their Serie A status for another season last week, were only missing veteran defender Valerio Bertotto.

Inter came racing out of the blocks, with Julio Cruz warming the hands of Alex Manninger, and Patrick Vieira firing just wide, all in the first 90 seconds.

Siena were not coming to defend though, and Houssine Kharja unleashed a fearsome shot from the angle, which Julio Cesar had to be alert to.

Inter won a succession of corners around the 10 minute mark, and Marco Materazzi crashed a header against the crossbar at the back post.

The goal was coming though, and from another Balotelli set-piece Vieira put the home side ahead with a thumping header past Manninger.

Inter were completely dominant and almost added a second when Balotelli’s free kick from the right located Cruz, whose goalbound shot was blocked in the Siena goalmouth.

Siena could barely get out of their own half but they silenced the San Siro on the half hour with a shock equaliser. Kharja’s brilliant through ball found Maccarone, and the bald-headed striker slid the ball past Julio Cesar.

This shook Inter back into action and Manninger performed a brilliant save from Luis Jimenez, spreading himself Peter Schmeichel-style, although the linesman had his flag up so the goal wouldn't have counted anyway.

Siena missed a golden chance to take the lead on 40 minutes, as Andrea Rossi destroyed Nicolas Burdisso for pace on the counter attack, but was denied by Julio Cesar in a one-on-one situation.

This miss proved crucial as on the stroke of half time Inter went back in front. A long throw from the right was flicked on by Vieira, and Balotelli nodded the ball in from a yard out.

Inter started the second half just like they did the first, and Cruz almost added a third, as he stroked the ball inches past the post.

The Argentine was involved heavily, and he tested Manninger again soon after with a low shot.

The Nerazzurri were so in control of the game it was almost embarrassing at times, but once again Siena found an equaliser completely out of the blue on 69 minutes. Kharja, a former Roma player, was the scorer, rifling a superb shot into the bottom corner from just outside the area.

Inter now threw the kitchen sink at Siena, and Manninger’s goal was under siege. Jimenez fired wide, before Materazzi got in the way of Julio Cruz's goalbound shot. Esteban Cambiasso also saw a shot deflected wide.

On 78 minutes Inter were handed a glorious opportunity to find the goal they craved as the referee awarded them a penalty after Christian Rigano was adjudged to have held Materazzi. Materazzi stepped up to take the spotkick, but he was denied by a brilliant Manninger save down to the goalkeeper’s left.

Inter were camped inside the Siena final third, and with five minutes remaining Jimenez saw his header creep inches wide of the post.

The Chilean crashed another shot over as the game moved into stoppages, as did Cruz.

The game finished 2-2, and Roma’s win over Atalanta means that the Scudetto will go down to the final day of the season.