Italy

Inter Held To An Entertaining Draw By UCLA

The Nerazzurri could only manage a draw against the renowned university.

Jul 16, 2009 9:15:55 PM

Muntari Inter-Juventus Serie A (Grazia Neri)

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Muntari Inter-Juventus Serie A (Grazia Neri)

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Inter are currently in the United States of America, where they are based for their preseason training camp. To kick off their pre-season campaign, the Nerazzurri took part in a friendly match against a UCLA select team last night, one that ended all square at 2-2.

In extreme heat the match got underway, with the Italians fielding a team with a good mix of experienced heads and fresh faces, however as expected, they were the side to threaten early, as Mario Balotelli sent a powerful effort inches wide of the target after just five minutes of play.

The likes of Mancini and Sulley Muntari caused havoc for the Americans, as their goalkeeper Perk was forced in to make a number of commendable saves within the first half hour of play.

Incredibly though, UCLA took the lead on 39 minutes from their first corner of the contest, when Carasco headed a goal past the Inter keeper Belec, ensuring that the home side would take a shock advantage into the half time interval.

Jose Mourinho opted to change his side’s formation to a 4-3-3 set-up and make a number of key changes, such as introducing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Diego Milito and Cristian Chivu into the field of play.

The move paid dividends immediately, as the Italians took just four minutes to open their account and level proceedings, when another of the substitutes in Marco Materazzi tapped in a goal from close range.

It took less than 20 minutes for the Italian giants to finally claim the lead, as a perfect cross into the area by Mancini was met by the head of Dejan Stankovic, who coolly tucked away his side’s second of the encounter. Just a few minutes later though, Griffin restored the parity in the match for the home side, as his header was too strong for Orlandoni in goal.

The Nerazzurri had a number of chances in the final 20 minutes of play, including one to Milito that struck the woodwork, however they would fail to score again, meaning that the friendly would eventually end 2-2.

Team Line-Ups

Inter: Bélec; Cordoba, Burdisso, Samuel, Obi; Muntari, Vieira, Cambiasso, Stankovic; Mancini, Balotelli.

Available: Orlandoni, Quaresma, Materazzi, Chivu, Stankovic, Motta, Krhin, Ibrahimovic, Milito.

UCLA Perk; Sacharin, Avalos, Suits, Alvarado; Akugo, Paul, Devis, Carasco; Stevens, Griffin.

Available: Birnbaum, Mandlebaum, Hollingshead, Rajner, Munoz.

Goals

39’ Carasco (UCLA)
49’ Materazzi (Inter)
67’ Stankovic (Inter)
70’ Griffin (UCLA)

Adrian Del Monte, Goal.com

If you want to read more news on Italy, head over to Goal.com's Italy section

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