OTD: 10 years ago Milito’s strike sealed the 18th Scudetto triumph

MILAN – The long-distance battle, a tricky first half, Balotelli’s strike against the bar, the second-half determination, Milito’s magic touch and the final celebrations. Siena vs. Inter is another tale in the history of that incredible history, a match that includes all the elements of that long and beautiful journey. Exactly ten years ago there was a double battle going on at the Artemio Franchi Stadium: the one against Malesani’s team, who were determined not to give an inch, and the long-distance one against Roma, who were already 2-0 up by the end of the first half against Chievo in the Bentegodi.

Inter took to the pitch at 15:00 with Julio Cesar in goal, Materazzi and Samuel in the centre of defence, flanked by Maicon and Zanetti. The midfield duo was made up of Cambiasso and Thiago Motta with Balotelli, Sneijder and Eto’o the trio supporting Milito up top. The match was full of thrills, the first coming after Ekdal’s shot that fizzed past the Brazilian goalkeeper’s post with thousands of Nerazzurri fans’ eyes watching it. Then both Balotelli and Milito came within a whisker of opening the scoring, before Milito once again forced Curci into action, which wasn’t the last time the Siena ‘keeper denied the Nerazzurri that day: he’d later thwart Thiago Motta and Eto’o, whilst the crossbar halted Balotelli’s effort and Julio Cesar had his own hands full stopping Maccarone’s shot from range.

Roma were winning, Inter weren’t and 45 decisive minutes remained. The team knew it, the fans knew it, and so the siege began. Zanetti dribbled through, played in Milito, goal? No. Curci leaped to push it over the bar. Not long after, déjà-vu, Inter’s no.4 with another powerful run, a ball played into El Principe, but a different choice of shot: it wasn’t as powerful nor rushed as the previous effort as he calmly slotted past Curci into the bottom corner. All the power instead came in the celebration, the embraces, in Stankovic’s shot that thumped against the crossbar, in the noise of Curci’s gloves stopping El Principe from scoring a brace. However, that single goal was enough to incite joyous scenes at the final whistle. Inter raised their 18th Scudetto to the sky and the celebrations started in Siena before continuing in Milan. Milito had sealed part two of the Triplete.

SIENA 0-1 INTER

Goal scorer: 57' MilitoSiena: 85 Curci; 87 Rosi, 6 Terzi, 29 Cribari (46'15 Brandao), 3 Del Grosso; 10 Codrea (81' 7 Reginaldo); 18 Ghezzal, 8 Vergassola, 12 Ekdal, 24 Jajalo; 32 Maccarone (53' 11 Calaiò).Substitutes: 89 Ivanov, 9 Malagò, 22 Tziolis, 23 Jarolim.Coach: Alberto MalesaniInter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 23 Materazzi, 25 Samuel, 4 Zanetti; 8 Thiago Motta (53' 27 Pandev), 19 Cambiasso; 45 Balotelli (59' 5 Stankovic), 10 Sneijder (73' 26 Chivu), 9 Eto'o; 22 Milito.Substitutes: 1 Toldo, 6 Lucio, 11 Muntari, 17 MarigaCoach: José MourinhoReferee: Emidio Morganti (from Ascoli Piceno)Yellow cards: 11' Del Grosso, 17' Cribari, 64' Brandao, 65' Codrea, 85' Chivu, 90+2' Toldo.