Torino 0 – 1 Inter
A goal from Julio Cruz was all that Inter needed to take back home all three points and extend their lead over second placed Roma in Serie A.
With Roma losing two precious points at home against Livorno on Saturday, Inter knew that taking all three from this encounter would see them increase their lead at the top of the standings and virtually end the Scudetto race.
However, before them was a Torino side, under new coach Gianni De Biasi, who needed to get back on their feet after a losing run of five in six games that saw them edge close to the relegation zone.
All in all, though, the reigning champions did enough to secure all three points.
In the first half Inter proved why they are a 'big team', as they suffered for long stretches during the 45 minutes before managing to hit back at the first given opportunity.
The Granata approached the game with confidence. After just two minutes, Rosina weaved inside the penalty area from the right hand side, but his effort went just wide. The home team kept on insisting and in the 13th minute Stellone tried his luck from 22 metres away, but the ball went just inches to the left hand side of Julio Cesar's goal.
However, after a long spell of dominance by Torino, Inter managed to score with their first shot on goal as a Balotelli corner kick found Cruz near the first post, with the Argentinean heading home. This was Cruz’s first goal in 2008.
The goal shocked the Granata and three minutes later Balotelli almost doubled the score when his shot hit the post with Fontana beaten. However that was the last opportunity for the young striker who was replaced by Cesar in the 37th minute as Mancini made a defensive alteration.
Torino started out strong;y in the second half, even though they failed to create clear cut opportunities to equalize. The first shot didn't arrive until the 64th minute through Rosina, whose shot from the long distance went over the bar.
Mancini realized that with the Granata piling up the pressure, the best tactic for the Nerazzurri was that of the counter attack, and for this reason he sent Suazo in lieu of Cambiasso.
As expected, Torino kept pushing forward, but though their attack was sterile and without any decent finishing, despite De Biasi's desperate move of sending in Ventola instead for Motta halfway through the second half.
This move did not obtain the desired results: Ventola's first shot on goal arrived only in the 82nd minute when his shot from nine metres away was parried by Julio Cesar.
Inter had the opportunity to close the encounter in the 90th minute when Cesar incredibly headed off-target from just three metres away in front of an empty net. However, despite missing this sitter, the Nerazzurri still managed to hold on until the end to take back home three precious points.
This win sends Inter six points clear of Roma and closer to the league title with only four matches left before the end of the season. On the other hand, Torino succumbed to their 6th defeat in seven games, and are now just four points above the danger zone.
STARTING LINE-UPS
Torino (4-1-4-1): Fontana; Motta, Di Loreto, Dellafiore, Pisano; Corini; Diana, Rosina, Grella, Lazetic; Stellone
Inter (4-4-2): Julio Cesar; Maicon, Burdisso, Materazzi, Chivu; Stankovic, J.Zanetti, Cambiasso, Maxwell; Balotelli, Cruz
