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Inter's post-Scudetto hangover continues, but they recovered with a Hernan Crespo hat-trick to beat Lazio in a seven-goal thriller! Despite the defeat, the Biancocelesti qualify for a Champions League preliminary round berth.
Roberto Mancini came face to face with his former club at the end of a strange week for the Champions, as they were humiliated 6-2 in the Coppa Italia by Roma on Wednesday. With the second leg coming up and the urge to get their confidence back on track, the Coach was torn between resting players and going for glory. Lazio needed points to seal their Champions League status and have an excellent record at San Siro, only losing here only once since 1993.
Adriano, Julio Cruz, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Walter Samuel and the suspended Ivan Cordoba were out. The Biancocelesti were missing Stefano Mauri and Angelo Peruzzi.
Lazio took the lead within just three minutes with a rather fortunate finish. Former Biancocelesti hero Dejan Stankovic foolishly gave the ball away on the edge of his area and Goran Pandev's strike took a decisive deflection off Marco Materazzi to loop over Julio Cesar.
Moments later it was 2-0, as just as they did against Roma midweek, Inter did not seem to be on the field. Luis Jimenez chipped a cross up for the totally unmarked Massimo Mutarelli's free header at the back post.
A timid Stankovic strike was comfortably held and Hernan Crespo's header skimmed the woodwork. Crespo got Inter back into it, as Douglas Maicon was allowed too much space in the area to spin round for Crespo's volley from six yards.
In the space of 60 seconds Lazio had two great chances to restore their two-goal cushion. Julio Cesar had to beat away a Pandev strike and as the move continued Tommaso Rocchi's angled drive took a deflection to shave a coat of paint off the far post.
The Nerazzurri defence was constantly caught napping, but Alvaro Recoba saw Ballotta off his line and attempted an audacious lob from his own half.
Crespo will be a big loss if he is recalled by Chelsea this summer, as he completed his brace and Inter's comeback. Patrick Vieira's cross looped over the defence to find the Argentine's acrobatic volley with the outside of his right foot.
A scuffle broke out when Nicolas Burdisso was booked for a horrible two-footed tackle on Jimenez that was borderline red. It proved a crucial moment, as from the resulting free kick Pandev stopped the ball for Cristian Ledesma to curl into the near top corner past a static Julio Cesar.
Jimenez was ready to net a fourth for Lazio, but he was halted one-on-one with the goalkeeper for an incorrect offside flag. On the stroke of half-time Mutarelli's through ball sent Rocchi clear and Julio Cesar parried with an outstretched foot.
Luis Figo replaced the disappointing Santiago Solari at the break and almost immediately set up a great chance that Vieira nodded over an open goal. However, Inter kept backing off the Lazio players, so Jimenez was invited forward and his fierce strike was palmed out from under the bar.
Ballotta did not deal with a cross very well, but Recoba's follow-up hit a defender in front of an open goal. Stephen Makinwa sprinted halfway up the field before he was finally closed down.
Crespo scored a hat-trick against his old club to make it 3-3 with 10 minutes to go. He exchange passes with Gonzalez and was kept onside by Luciano Zauri to side-foot home at the back post. Sebastiano Siviglia took his protests too far and was sent off.
Left with 10 men, Lazio crumbled and Materazzi completed the incredible comeback to lead 4-3 with a trademark header from a corner kick! In his celebration, the defender shouted "May 5" at the fans - recalling the date in 2002 when Lazio's win at the Olimpico ended Inter's Scudetto dreams.
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