Fiorentina 1 : 2 Inter Milan - Pazzini keeps Inter in the pack

Posted Wednesday, February 16, 2011 by PA

Giampaolo Pazzini hit the second-half winner as Inter Milan kept the pressure on the top two in Serie A with a 2-1 win over Fiorentina.

The reigning Italian champions have had to come from a long way back this season after a disappointing start under Rafael Benitez.

However under Benitez's successor Leonardo they are putting a title challenge together and Wednesday night's victory was just the result they were seeking after Sunday's defeat at Juventus. It put them five points behind front-runners AC Milan, and two behind second-placed Napoli.

Inter had an ideal start when Michele Camporese put the ball into his own net after just six minutes, before Fiorentina went level with a goal from Manuel Pasqual which owed a lot to good fortune.

However Pazzini had the decisive say after half-time before both sides had chances to add further goals.

Inter's opening goal came from a counter-attack led by Dejan Stankovic who picked out the run of Maicon on the right. The Brazilian's cross was heading towards danger but struck Camporese and the ball beat Artur Boruc at his near post.

Stankovic fired just wide of the right post on Inter's next purposeful attack, before Fiorentina came forward and Adrian Mutu's left-footed shot drew a save from Julio Cesar.

Alberto Gilardino headed wide of the target as the home side searched for an equalising goal which came after 32 minutes when Pasqual's whipped low cross from the left went straight in, as Gilardino looked to get a touch.

Pazzini headed wide from Maicon's cross for Inter, before Gilardino shot wide from 15 yards at the other end. Maicon wasted the final chance of the half when he missed the target from close range.

Inter defender Andrea Ranocchia had to make a challenge to deny Gilardino as Fiorentina looked to sneak ahead.

But it was the visitors who swept into the lead after 61 minutes when Samuel Eto'o raced beyond his marker from the right flank and served up a chance which Pazzini drove into the roof of the net from three yards.

Stankovic shot over the bar as Inter sought to increase their lead, before Esteban Cambiasso headed too high from Wesley Sneijder's free-kick.

Fiorentina's Adem Ljajic cleared the bar from the edge of the Inter penalty area, before the final clear chance fell to Khouma Babacar and his header failed to make Julio Cesar work.