Milito double helps Inter pummel Parma
Reuters - Saturday 07 January 2012, 22:41
A Diego Milito double helped
Inter Milan rout Parma 5-0 on Saturday, making it five wins in
five Serie A games to close within a point of fourth-placed
Lazio who earlier went down 4-0 at Siena.
In a one-sided game at the San Siro, Argentine striker
Milito tucked in Ricky Alvarez's cross after 13 minutes before
Thiago Motta drilled in a second goal from distance.
Milito headed home Maicon's centre in the 41st minute and
Giampaolo Pazzini (56) and Marco Faraoni (79) finished off
Parma.
Inter, who meet city rivals AC Milan next weekend, stay
fifth with 29 points from 17 games while Parma remain 13th ahead
of the main programme of fixtures on Sunday.
"It was important to have a good first period because Parma
tend to start well with their three attackers," Inter coach
Claudio Ranieri told Sky Sports.
"My players are not finished. We know we've got out of a
precarious position with these five wins but we need to fly if
we are going to catch those above. I'm not saying how high we
can go."
Inter began confidently and took the lead when Milito, one
of nine South American-born players in their starting lineup,
cleverly flicked the ball in at the near post.
Strike partner Pazzini blazed an easier chance over from
another teasing Alvarez cross before the in-form Uruguayan teed
up Motta to double the home team's advantage with a skidding
drive.
Sebastian Giovinco had a glorious chance to bring Parma back
into the game but headed weakly wide after a fine Jonathan
Biabiany run and cross.
Parma then went close with two rasping free-kicks before
Milito nodded his second goal high into the net.
PRECISION PASS
With Inter playing on the break in the second period,
Pazzini got in on the scoring act after running on to Milito's
precision pass and coolly lifting the ball over goalkeeper
Antonio Mirante.
An assistant referee's flag saved the blushes of Inter
skipper Javier Zanetti after he belted the ball into his own net
from the edge of the box before substitute Faraoni delivered a
superb half-volley that crashed in off the underside of the bar.
"We allowed Inter to do too many easy things and we didn't
take our chances," said Parma coach Franco Colomba after his
side extended their run to six games without a win.
"We know where we need to improve. We have to find the right
balance between attack and defence."
In Tuscany, two goals each from Emanuele Calaio and Mattia
Destro led struggling Siena past Lazio as Serie A returned after
a two-and-a-half week break.
Siena, who had not scored in their five previous league
matches, struck three times in the opening half through Destro's
early strike and two Calaio penalties.
With Lazio reduced to 10 men after goalkeeper Albano
Bizzarri was dismissed for complaining about the second spot-kick, Destro added his second goal late on.