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Milan's "Inter", this year considered the main contender to win the title, solidly started the new season with a 3-2 victory away from home against "Fiorentina" who started the season with a 19-point deficit due to a match-fixing scandal influenced by referees. The victory for the Italian champions was sealed by Esteban Cambiasso, who scored two goals, and Zlatan Ibrahimović, who made an assist and scored a goal himself. Meanwhile, in the home team, Luca Toni tried to save his team.
The home team started the match very aggressively, but "Inter" striker Hernan Crespo forced "Fiorentina" goalkeeper Sebastien Frey to work during counter-attacks and corner kicks. Although the hosts managed to avoid conceding a goal in these instances, the score remained “dry” for a short time only. In the 11th minute, the Argentine E. Cambiasso, after receiving a pass from his teammate Z. Ibrahimović, defeated S. Frey.
“Fiorentina” intensified their attack further, and "Inter" defenders had to defend against dangerous attacks from Adriano Mutu and Fabio Liverani. However, just when it seemed that the Florence team could equalize the score, Luís Figo's cross was headed into the goal by E. Cambiasso, making the score 0-2. After the first half, the mood in the visitor's team's dressing room was better.
At the start of the second half, a penalty was requested against Marco Materazzi for a foul by F. Liverani, but the referee remained silent. On the other side of the field, Z. Ibrahimović's penalty shot was almost a goal. However, after a few minutes, the Swede managed to score from a pass by E. Cambiasso, sending the ball into the "Fiorentina" goal for the third time.
But after 7 minutes, the hosts finally managed to score a goal. A. Mutu headed the ball into the goal after a cross, scored by Luca Toni, the top scorer of the previous "Serie A" season and a world champion. The Italian managed to head in another goal after ten minutes, reducing the gap to a minimum, but the hosts did not have enough strength to score a third goal and equalize the score.
In the other match, "Roma", as expected, easily beat "Livorno" by 2-0 at home.
The hosts took the lead in the 44th minute with a great shot from long distance by Daniele De Rossi, defeating the visiting goalkeeper. In the 54th minute, the new "Roma" player, David Pizarro, appeared on the field and immediately created a goal. His shot was parried by the "Livorno" goalkeeper directly to the feet of the Brazilian Mancini, who doubled the lead for the capital team.
Lithuanian Tomas Danilevičius appeared in the match as a substitute, replacing another team striker Luca Vigiani in the 58th minute.
Meanwhile, the long-time national champion Turin's "Juventus" started their campaign in the "Serie B" league on a sour note - one of Italy's biggest clubs could not beat "Rimini" away from home and drew 1-1. It was a better outcome for the "Brescia" team, who had Marius Stankevičius playing the full match, as they managed to beat "Piacenza" with a 2-0 scoreline.
Results of Saturday's "Serie A" matches:
Inter 3 - 2 Fiorentina
11’ [0 - 1] Esteban Cambiasso
41’ [0 - 2] Esteban Cambiasso
61’ [0 - 3] Zlatan Ibrahimović
68’ [1 - 3] Luca Toni
78’ [2 - 3] Luca Toni
Roma 2 - 0 Livorno
44’ [1 - 0] Daniele De Rossi
54’ [2 - 0] Amantino Mancini
