Serie A leaders Inter looked to bounce back from another disappointing Champions League performance as they hosted Catania at San Siro.
They created their first chance after only three minutes, as the visitors lost the ball and Samuel Eto’o made a run towards the goal, before playing to Wesley Sneijder in the area, but the Dutchman tried another assist instead of shooting and the chance was lost.
Inter did take the lead in the 12th minute through Sulley Muntari, who looked for Eto’o with a free kick which eluded everyone and went past goalkeeper Andrea Campagnolo.
The home side continued to control the match after that, and the Rossazzurri only had their first chance in the 20th minute, when Ezequiel Carboni fired a shot from about 30 meters that called Julio Cesar into action.
Seven minutes later, Patrick Vieira had a chance to make it 2-0 as he controlled the ball inside the area and fired a shot with his right foot that hit the crossbar.
At the half hour mark, the Nerazzurri doubled their lead with a perfect free kick by Sneijder, which went over the wall and into the top corner of the net out of Campagnolo’s reach.
For the remainder of the first half Inter limited themselves to controlling the result, and created no further chances to build on their lead.
During half time, Inter coach Jose Mourinho made no substitutions, while his Catania colleague Gianluca Atzori brought on Giuseppe Mascara and Pablo Ledesma for Marco Biagianti and Mariano Izco respectively.
The start of the second half saw little change compared to the first half, as the hosts continued to control the proceedings.
However, in the 54th minute there was a chance for Catania, as Takayuki Morimoto controlled the ball in the area and played it back to the onrushing Carboni, whose first time shot went just wide.
Four minutes later, Inter had a good chance as Sneijder fired a free kick that was punched away by Campagnaro, the ball then came to Vieira whose header from a good position incredibly went wide.
The home side had very little difficulties controlling the match, and ran very few risks throughout most of the second half.
However, they were given a scare in the 83rd minute, when Julio Cesar failed to hold on to the ball and was forced to bring down substitute Gianvito Plasmati, which led to an inevitable penalty. Mascara coolly converted it to make it 2-1.
Catania went all out to try and find an equalizer, but failed to create any further chances after that. Thus Inter held on for an important victory that sends them top of the table again with 22 points after Sampdoria's big win earlier today.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Elusive home glory essential for Barrichello
This weekend Brawn GP’s Rubens Barrichello faces arguably the most important race of his 17-year Formula One career. If he performs anything less than brilliantly at the Brazilian Grand Prix his team mate Jenson Button, who has a 14-point lead in the standings, could well wrap up the drivers’ title. Hence a win is all but essential if Barrichello is to keep his long-held hopes alive ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Adding to the pressure is the fact that the Interlagos race is the 37 year-old’s home event. With Nelson Piquet ousted from his Renault drive and Ferrari’s Felipe Massa still recovering from Hungary crash, Sao Paulo native Barrichello is the sole Brazilian runner and will thus have the hopes of an entire nation resting on his shoulders as he races off the line on Sunday.
The passionate Paulista fans are famously hard. Last year they were robbed at the death when Lewis Hamilton’s last-lap pass on Timo Glock stole the title from under Massa’s nose. This season they are again in with a chance of celebrating their first champion since Ayrton Senna in 1991, so the weight of expectation will be particularly heavy. It will be Barrichello’s 17th Formula One outing at Interlagos, so if he’s not used to the pressure now, he never will be.
Barrichello was actually born within earshot of the legendary track, and after growing tired of sneaking into the circuit to watch races for free, he started to compete. He finished third in his first karting event, second in his second and first in his third, and hasn’t looked back since. But despite this affinity with the venue, the veteran of 286 Grands Prix and winner of 11 has actually never scored an F1 win at Interlagos.
That’s not to say he hasn’t come close. In 1994 he took a well-deserved fourth place for Jordan, while two years later he took a spectacular P2 on the grid and looked set for a podium before he spun off with brake problems. After that 1996 outing, Barrichello couldn’t shake off a run of bad luck and from 1997 to 2002 he racked up six consecutive retirements. Gearboxes, engines, penalties and mistakes were all to blame over the years.
Then, in 2003, prospects for his home race suddenly looked brighter than ever. He took a dominant pole position in the Ferrari and, despite chaotically rainy conditions, led for most of the race. Then, just eight laps from home, he stopped out on track. A fuel feed problem was blamed, although some suspected he simply ran out of fuel. A year later he took pole again and this time finished third to take his very first Interlagos podium. It remains Barrichello’s best finish at the track.
Since then he’s finished no higher than sixth, but given his recent successes with Brawn, Barrichello has every right to expect a reversal in fortunes this weekend. Of course team mate, and standing’s leader, Button has exactly the same car under him, and so to evaluate Barrichello’s chances one must also look back at the British driver’s record at Interlagos.
Interestingly, Button has also recorded just one third-place finish, back in 2006 for Honda. Perhaps more tellingly, however, Button has never taken pole in Brazil and since becoming Barrichello’s team mate in 2006, has never come close to out-qualifying the local hero.
With his intimate knowledge of the track, his incomparable set-up skills, and the boost provided by an adoring home crowd, 2009 could be Barrichello’s best chance yet of banishing his Interlagos demons once and for all - and with a title at stake, it couldn’t come at a better time.
Adding to the pressure is the fact that the Interlagos race is the 37 year-old’s home event. With Nelson Piquet ousted from his Renault drive and Ferrari’s Felipe Massa still recovering from Hungary crash, Sao Paulo native Barrichello is the sole Brazilian runner and will thus have the hopes of an entire nation resting on his shoulders as he races off the line on Sunday.
The passionate Paulista fans are famously hard. Last year they were robbed at the death when Lewis Hamilton’s last-lap pass on Timo Glock stole the title from under Massa’s nose. This season they are again in with a chance of celebrating their first champion since Ayrton Senna in 1991, so the weight of expectation will be particularly heavy. It will be Barrichello’s 17th Formula One outing at Interlagos, so if he’s not used to the pressure now, he never will be.
Barrichello was actually born within earshot of the legendary track, and after growing tired of sneaking into the circuit to watch races for free, he started to compete. He finished third in his first karting event, second in his second and first in his third, and hasn’t looked back since. But despite this affinity with the venue, the veteran of 286 Grands Prix and winner of 11 has actually never scored an F1 win at Interlagos.
That’s not to say he hasn’t come close. In 1994 he took a well-deserved fourth place for Jordan, while two years later he took a spectacular P2 on the grid and looked set for a podium before he spun off with brake problems. After that 1996 outing, Barrichello couldn’t shake off a run of bad luck and from 1997 to 2002 he racked up six consecutive retirements. Gearboxes, engines, penalties and mistakes were all to blame over the years.
Then, in 2003, prospects for his home race suddenly looked brighter than ever. He took a dominant pole position in the Ferrari and, despite chaotically rainy conditions, led for most of the race. Then, just eight laps from home, he stopped out on track. A fuel feed problem was blamed, although some suspected he simply ran out of fuel. A year later he took pole again and this time finished third to take his very first Interlagos podium. It remains Barrichello’s best finish at the track.
Since then he’s finished no higher than sixth, but given his recent successes with Brawn, Barrichello has every right to expect a reversal in fortunes this weekend. Of course team mate, and standing’s leader, Button has exactly the same car under him, and so to evaluate Barrichello’s chances one must also look back at the British driver’s record at Interlagos.
Interestingly, Button has also recorded just one third-place finish, back in 2006 for Honda. Perhaps more tellingly, however, Button has never taken pole in Brazil and since becoming Barrichello’s team mate in 2006, has never come close to out-qualifying the local hero.
With his intimate knowledge of the track, his incomparable set-up skills, and the boost provided by an adoring home crowd, 2009 could be Barrichello’s best chance yet of banishing his Interlagos demons once and for all - and with a title at stake, it couldn’t come at a better time.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Imran thinks Younis has no place in the team
Former Pakistani Test Captain Imran Khan has pointed out that Younis Khan, the captain of Pakistan Cricket Team has no place in the team except for his captancy. Although Imran Khan has always guided and given tips to Younis Khan about captancy but the recent performaces of the captain not liked by Imran.
Also Younis Khan has been heavily criticized by the media and the people of Pakistan about dropping a crucial catch in the Semi Final of the Champions Trophy against Newzealand, Younis Khan who appointed as a captain back in March has a topsy turvey ride as a captain as his first tour has a dramatic ending when the Sri Lankan Team Bus is attacked by the Terrorists Organization and after Pakistan loss the rights of holding 2011 Cricket world cup he prove his mettle while winning the 20/20 championships against all odds by defeating Sri Lanka in the Finals. Lets Hope that Pakistani nation soon forget the drop catch and behind Khan against the crucial series against New Zaeland in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Also Younis Khan has been heavily criticized by the media and the people of Pakistan about dropping a crucial catch in the Semi Final of the Champions Trophy against Newzealand, Younis Khan who appointed as a captain back in March has a topsy turvey ride as a captain as his first tour has a dramatic ending when the Sri Lankan Team Bus is attacked by the Terrorists Organization and after Pakistan loss the rights of holding 2011 Cricket world cup he prove his mettle while winning the 20/20 championships against all odds by defeating Sri Lanka in the Finals. Lets Hope that Pakistani nation soon forget the drop catch and behind Khan against the crucial series against New Zaeland in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Massa could be back on track on Monday
Ferrari have revealed that Felipe Massa could return to the test track as early as next week, with Monday mooted as a possible date for his first session in a Formula One car since fracturing his skull at July’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
Massa has already tested his mettle at the wheel of a kart this month and has been visiting the Italian team’s headquarters this week, as he continues preparations for his F1 return, and the FIA has granted the Brazilian permission to drive a 2007-spec car fitted with GP2 tyres.
In anticipation of the test, Massa has spent two days in Modena evaluating his skills on Ferrari’s simulator. Joined by his race engineer Rob Smedley and performance engineer Giuliano Salvi, Massa ‘drove’ around the Barcelona circuit on Wednesday, before switching his attentions to the simulator’s Interlagos programme.
The 28 year-old will visit Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters again on Thursday to say hello to a few more team members, before journeying to Paris to undergo an FIA medical on Friday. If he passes the examination, and is declared fit to drive, the team are hopeful he’ll be on track in Italy on Monday.
Massa has already tested his mettle at the wheel of a kart this month and has been visiting the Italian team’s headquarters this week, as he continues preparations for his F1 return, and the FIA has granted the Brazilian permission to drive a 2007-spec car fitted with GP2 tyres.
In anticipation of the test, Massa has spent two days in Modena evaluating his skills on Ferrari’s simulator. Joined by his race engineer Rob Smedley and performance engineer Giuliano Salvi, Massa ‘drove’ around the Barcelona circuit on Wednesday, before switching his attentions to the simulator’s Interlagos programme.
The 28 year-old will visit Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters again on Thursday to say hello to a few more team members, before journeying to Paris to undergo an FIA medical on Friday. If he passes the examination, and is declared fit to drive, the team are hopeful he’ll be on track in Italy on Monday.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Simoni to join Cunego at Lampre?
Lampre's Saronni says idea of having Simoni in his final year is 'tantalizing'
Gilberto Simoni and Damiano Cunego could join forces for the first time in five years. Lampre-NCG Team Manager Giuseppe Saronni had a meeting with Simoni's agents on Tuesday, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, to discuss the idea of him riding the final year of his career alongside Cunego.
"It's a tantalizing idea," Saronni said. "Gibo is no longer at the level to win the Giro d'Italia, but he remains a consistent cyclist. The idea is not only attractive, it also has the right and important technical elements. We will work on it."
The two Italians rode together in the same team under Saronni from 2002 to 2005. Their relationship broke down when Cunego, riding in his second Giro d'Italia, won four stages and the overall title at age 22. Two-time Giro winner and defending champion Simoni shouted at Cunego: "you're a bastard", as the latter celebrated his fourth stage win at Bormio.
Simoni, 38, and Cunego, 28, re-established their friendship last winter at a benefit dinner in Milan. Simoni, after two year's with Gianni Savio's Diquigiovanni, could be ready to race again with Cunego for the first time since the 2005 Giro di Lombardia.
"I would have remained in that group for a lifetime," said Simoni. "The idea of returning there is interesting. It's all come about in the last 24-hours and perhaps it won't even materialise."
Simoni's agents Alex and Johnny Carera met with the Lampre team owners and Saronni yesterday. The move could see him ride out the last of 17 years of road racing with Lampre.
Gilberto Simoni and Damiano Cunego could join forces for the first time in five years. Lampre-NCG Team Manager Giuseppe Saronni had a meeting with Simoni's agents on Tuesday, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, to discuss the idea of him riding the final year of his career alongside Cunego.
"It's a tantalizing idea," Saronni said. "Gibo is no longer at the level to win the Giro d'Italia, but he remains a consistent cyclist. The idea is not only attractive, it also has the right and important technical elements. We will work on it."
The two Italians rode together in the same team under Saronni from 2002 to 2005. Their relationship broke down when Cunego, riding in his second Giro d'Italia, won four stages and the overall title at age 22. Two-time Giro winner and defending champion Simoni shouted at Cunego: "you're a bastard", as the latter celebrated his fourth stage win at Bormio.
Simoni, 38, and Cunego, 28, re-established their friendship last winter at a benefit dinner in Milan. Simoni, after two year's with Gianni Savio's Diquigiovanni, could be ready to race again with Cunego for the first time since the 2005 Giro di Lombardia.
"I would have remained in that group for a lifetime," said Simoni. "The idea of returning there is interesting. It's all come about in the last 24-hours and perhaps it won't even materialise."
Simoni's agents Alex and Johnny Carera met with the Lampre team owners and Saronni yesterday. The move could see him ride out the last of 17 years of road racing with Lampre.
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