ROME, 23 April 2007 — Marco Materazzi scored twice, once from the penalty spot, as Inter Milan won 2-1 at Siena to clinch their second successive Serie A title with five games to spare.
The win, coupled with second-placed AS Roma’s 2-1 defeat at Atalanta gave Inter an unassailable 16-point lead. Inter have 84 points from 33 games, Roma have 68.
Materazzi put Inter ahead in the 18th minute with a right-footed shot following a goalmouth scramble only for defender Paolo Negro to head in Siena’s equalizer three minutes later.
Inter regained the lead 15 minutes after the break, when Siena keeper Alexander Manninger brought down Julio Cruz in the area and Materazzi converted the penalty.
Siena fought back and had several good chances to level but Inter hung on despite effectively playing the closing stages with 10 men, because Brazilian defender Maicon was carrying an injury and coach Roberto Mancini had used all his substitutes.
Inter, who seemed invincible for much of the season, went into yesterday’s match looking for a win to steady nerves after picking up just two points from their last three matches. Mancini’s men also wanted to make up for the disappointment of suffering their first league defeat of the season on Wednesday, losing 3-1 to Roma. Atalanta’s Cristiano Doni headed in a superb cross from Brazilian Adriano Ferreira Pinto in the 37th minute and Riccardo Zampagna made it 2-0 just before halftime with a fine lob.
Simone Perrotta scored Roma’s goal in the 19th minute of the second half.
United Relieved as Chelsea
Are Held at Newcastle
In London, Chelsea missed their chance to slash Manchester United’s lead in the Premier League to a single point yesterday when they were held to a 0-0 draw at Newcastle United. Manchester United handed the initiative to Chelsea after drawing 1-1 at home with Middlesbrough on Saturday and will breathe a huge sigh of relief at the champions’ scrappy draw at St. James’ Park. With four games left to play United are top on 82 points while Chelsea, who will host Alex Ferguson’s men in a potential title decider at Stamford Bridge on May 9, have 79. Neither Newcastle nor Chelsea created any clear-cut scoring chances on Sunday, with the hosts’ defense keeping a tight rein on the Chelsea attack led by Didier Drogba.
Champions Germany Land Ideal
Draw for Women’s World Cup
In Wuhan, China, world and European champions Germany landed a favorable draw for the women’s World Cup yesterday, while former champions the United States will face a tough early test against two highly ranked teams.
Germany, who won the competition in 2003 and are ranked second in the world, were drawn in Group A with Japan, England and Argentina. Of those three, Japan is the highest ranked at ninth. The United States, ranked No. 1 in the world, found themselves in Group B with Sweden, North Korea — ranked fourth and fifth — and Nigeria, the No. 1 team in Africa.
Hosts China will be happy with their draw after landing Brazil, New Zealand and Denmark in Group D, while two-time finalists Norway will take on Australia, Ghana and Canada in Group C. The women’s World Cup has been eagerly anticipated in China, which lost its chance to stage the 2003 tournament when the deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak spread across several Asian countries.The tournament will take place from Sept. 10 to 30, with matches being played in Chengdu, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Tianjin and Wuhan.
Beckham Returns to Help
Fire Real’s Title Push
In Madrid, David Beckham returned from a six-week injury absence to set up Real Madrid’s winner in a 2-1 victory over Primera Liga title rivals Valencia at the Bernabeu on Saturday.
Ruud van Nistelrooy scored with a spectacular volley to put Real in front before Fernando Morientes leveled against his former club soon after the break.
Beckham, fit again after a knee injury, came on as a second-half substitute and provided a trademark free kick for Sergio Ramos to head the deciding goal in the 73rd minute.
Real climbed to second in the table on 57 points, two behind leaders Barcelona who visit Villarreal.
Third-placed Sevilla (55) host Athletic Bilbao. Valencia (53) are fourth.
Real Sociedad kept up their chances of avoiding relegation with a 2-0 home win over Atletico Madrid.
Serbian striker Darko Kovacevic poked in Savio’s cross for the opener before Brazilian forward Savio made it 2-0 with a volley six minutes from time.
Atletico had midfielder Peter Luccin and defender Fabiano Eller sent off in the second half.
The Basque side, who claimed their third win in four, remained second bottom with 27 points, three from safety. Atletico stayed sixth with 50.
Real showed more desire to get forward early at the Bernabeu and took the lead after a sweeping move in the 18th minute.
Put clear down the left, fullback Miguel Torres crossed and Dutch striker Van Nistelrooy lashed in a volley from the edge of the area.
Real midfielder Fernando Gago was lucky to be on the pitch at halftime.
Having already received a yellow card, the Argentine’s mistimed tackle on Miguel went unpunished before the interval.
Winger Joaquin created the equalizer for Valencia in the 52nd minute, beating his man down the right and crossing low for an unmarked Morientes to steer the ball inside the far post.
Beckham came on as a substitute in the 65th minute and eight minutes later his free kick set up Ramos’ winner.
Real went close to adding a third through Van Nistelrooy and Robinho, though keeper Iker Casillas had to be sharp to push out an Asier del Horno volley near the end.
