Cesena spoil Ibrahimovic debut
Reuters - Saturday 11 September 2010, 21:12
MILAN - Promoted Cesena ruined Zlatan
Ibrahimovic's debut by stunning AC Milan 2-0 on Saturday after
Inter Milan had struggled to a 2-1 win over Udinese.
Albanian striker Erjon Bogdani's 31st minute header and a
superb finish from fellow forward Emanuele Giaccherini just
before the break left visiting Milan in complete shock and
rueing two Alexandre Pato strikes which were ruled out.
Former Barcelona and Inter man Ibrahimovic missed a late
penalty as predictions the Swede could swing the Serie A
championship race Milan's way this term after five straight
Inter titles began to look premature.
Robinho, Milan's other big transfer window signing, came on
for Ronaldinho in the second period but the Brazilian could not
silence the capacity 24,000 crowd in the small city near Rimini.
Tiny Cesena, who have made some smart acquisitions including
Ghana World Cup midfielder Stephen Appiah, had served warning of
their confidence by drawing 0-0 at AS Roma in their opener.
Roma stay on one point after succumbing 5-1 at Cagliari
where Nicolas Burdisso, the defender Roma spent the whole window
chasing, conceded a penalty and was sent off on 23 minutes.
The score was already 1-1 at that point following goals from
Cagliari's Daniele Conti, whose father Bruno is Roma sporting
director, and a Daniele De Rossi header.
LUCKY INTER
Robert Acquafresca made it 3-1 after Roma coach Claudio
Ranieri had decided to take off captain Francesco Totti to cope
with being down to 10 men.
Alessandro Matri, who netted the earlier spotkick after
ex-Inter man Burdisso's nasty tackle on the then substituted
Conti, scored again before Andrea Lazzari's late fifth.
Champions Inter rode their luck in their second Serie A game
of the season after a 0-0 draw at Bologna in their opener.
Lucio bundled in Wesley Sneijder's corner following a
mistake from goalkeeper Samir Handanovic early in the first half
before Antonio Floro Flores headed an equaliser.
Handanovic then blocked Samuel Eto'o's second-half spotkick
after Gabrielle Angella's handball but the Cameroon forward
buried the rebound before also hitting the inside of the post.
Udinese pushed hard for a leveller as Inter backtracked.
Inter, treble winners last term under Jose Mourinho, have
laboured so far this season with previously inspirational
forward Diego Milito again off the pace against Udinese.
"We know his quality, it's only a matter of time," new coach
Rafael Benitez told Sky. "We started well but then lost control
of the midfield and they had some dangerous counter attacks."
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