New Delhi: A match-up between first and last place showed a clear difference in quality between the sides as 'The Special One' and his squad cruised to 3-0 victory over the Amaranto at the San Siro.
Pre-Match News
Inter coach Jose Mourinho had to deal with a defensive crisis with so many of his centre backs out through injury and suspension. Thus, Esteban Cambiasso partnered Nelson Rivas in defense. Meanwhile, Mancini was given a chance to impress as the Portuguese tactician enabled an experimental 4-2-3-1 formation.
Meanwhile, Reggina boss Nevio Orlandi was forced to do without star striker Bernardo Corradi, so Francesco Cozza and Franco Brienza were pushed further forward in attack.
First Half
Brienza had a shot from long rage early on, but it was the league-leaders, who scored with their first real chance. Mario Balotelli played the ball back into the box after a corner was cleared and Dejan Stankovic performed a clever back-heel through to Cambiasso, who opened the Nerazzurri account with a cheeky finish.
It looked like it was going to be a long night for the basement dwellers. Mancini's step-overs fooled his marker, who brought him down in the area. Although, Mancini went down rather easily, his man was truly beaten and there was contact. Ibrahimovic dispatched the spot-kick with ease to give Inter a two-goal lead after 10 minutes.
Inter had all the attacking play and were nearly three to the good, Balotelli stole the ball from Andrea Costa and cut back for Ibrahimovic, but he scuffed his shot from point-blank range. However, that did not deter the Benemata! Davide Santon sold his marker by faking the shot and laid off for the 'Super Swede,' whose low shot slammed the post from outside the area.
The Nerazzurri were content to be far more patient, beating Reggina to every ball and spraying passes around looking for opportunities.
Reggina tried to cut the deficit after some fancy footwork from Cozza that saw him dribble past two defenders, he curled the ball just wide from the corner of the box.
Mancini had to come off after suffering a hamstring injury and was replaced by Victor Obinna on the left wing on 40 minutes. Soon after, Antonino Barilla had a great chance after being set up by Cozza, but his shot was straight at Julio Cesar in a one-on-one situation.
The half-time whistle blew with Inter in a commanding position after a positive display of football.
Second Half
Neither coach made any more changes to begin the second half as the Amaranto now had a mountain to climb if they wanted to get back into the match.
'Ibracadabra' lived up to his name by producing the third with a piece of magic. He used his strength to avoid three players and then chipped Puggioni in the Reggina net with an effort from the edge of the box to truly close out the contest. It was his 19th goal of the Serie A campaign.
Adejo's acrobatic effort had plenty of power, but not the precision to beat the Inter shot stopper. Julio Cesar was again decisive when he got down to parry Barreto's low shot.
Both coaches made some changes as they seemed resigned to their respective results. Luis Jimenez received a run out, while Alessio Sestu and Fabio Ceravolo were thrown on in hope that the visitors could grab at least one goal. However, Jimenez was removed after just ten minutes, giving Maxwell his 100th appearance in Nerazzurri colours!
Sulley Muntari, who had been impressive all afternoon, nearly made it four, but he turned Balotelli's rebound over the bar.
The referee added no injury time to end Reggina's misery and Inter were deserved winners to maintain their seven point lead over Juventus.
Inter 3-0 Reggina
Goals: 5' Cambiasso (I), 10' Ibrahimovic pk (I), 57' Ibrahimovic (I)
Bookings: 10' Valdez (R), 26' Barilla (R), 51' Santon (I), 68' Carmona (R)
Inter (4-2-3-1): Julio Cesar - Maicon, Rivas, Cambiasso, Santon - Zanetti, Muntari - Balotelli, Stankovic (67' Jimenez, 77' Maxwell), Mancini (40' Obinna) - Ibrahimovic
Reggina (4-4-2): Puggioni - Lanzaro, Valdez, Santos, Costa - Carmona, Berreto, Barilla (67' Sestu), Adejo ( 76' Krajcik) - Cozza (73' Ceravolo), Brienza
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