SOCCER NEWS
Catania 0-2 Inter: Nerazzurri rally for a win
CATANIA (PA SPORT) - Internazionale restored their eight-point lead at the top of Serie A, but they had to work hard for a 2-0 win at Catania
In a period when referees are under close scrutiny, another decision in favour of the Nerazzurri set them on their way to victory.
Esteban Cambiasso scored the first goal from what appeared to be an offside position in the 64th minute before David Suazo doubled Inter's lead four minutes later.
Referee Stefano Farini endured plenty of barracking before ending the game and heading for the sanctuary of the dressing room before anybody else.
Catania had looked the brighter before Inter's first goal and were somewhat unlucky not to get at least a point from the game.
The Stadio Massimino was full for the first time this season and the home fans were keen to make their voices heard.
Inter appeared intimidated by the atmosphere in the first half and could not find any rhythm to their game.
Catania did all the running with Mariano Julio Izco shining in midfield. He inspired his side in the second half against Genoa last weekend to earn a place in the starting XI, and he had the only two chances of the first half.
His first shot just missed Julio Cesar's crossbar and he went close with a header later on as the home side edged a tactical first half in which both teams cancelled each other out.
The crowd tried to lift Catania in the second half and the team reacted well with Juan Vargas' dangerous low free-kick causing panic inside the Inter half with Marco Materazzi clearing desperately.
Inter had shown next to nothing in attack and were verging on the soporific, but showed precisely why they are top of Serie A in the 64th minute.
A long cross from Maxwell to the far post was headed back across goal by Javier Zanetti and Cambiasso tapped in from close range. Cambiasso looked to have been offside but the goal stood and Catania struggled to recover from the blow.
They conceded again within four minutes.
This time there was little doubt that Suazo was onside when he began his run to reach Zlatan Ibrahimovic's touch as Inter played route-one football from Cesar's long kick forward.
The Honduras international, who had only just come on as a substitute, danced past Ciro Polito before placing the ball into an empty net.
Roberto Mancini's men had managed to silence the fans, but not for long.
Every decision made by the referee was met with ironic cheers and applause and, when he blew the final whistle he headed straight down the tunnel, avoiding the usual shaking of hands with both teams and the wrath of the Sicilian fans.
(espnstar.com)