INTER MILAN :: NERAZZURRI

Serie A - Inter celebrate title in style




Jose Mourinho celebrated winning his first Scudetto in style as goals from Esteban Cambiasso, Mario Balotelli and Zlatan Ibrahimovic saw Internazionale cruise past Siena 3-0 at the San Siro.


The Nerazzurri were crowned champions for a 17th time without kicking a ball on Saturday, thanks to Udinese's 2-1 win over Milan.

The result gave Inter an unassailable seven-point lead over their city rivals - earning them a fourth straight Serie A title in Mourinho's first season as coach.

Following an impromptu open-bus ride to the city centre, the hosts were in no mood to let Siena spoil the party.

But there were signs of an Inter hangover as Emanuele Calaio brought out a superb save from Julio Cesar with just four minutes on the clock.

It took until midway through the first period before Inter had their first real chance.

Siena keeper Gianluca Curci had looked less than confident in the early stages and he was rooted to his line when Balotelli stabbed over from just yards out.

As the home side took control, Siena gave away a series of free kicks.

There was farce when Balotelli lofted a ball into the area only for five Inter players to be caught offside as Siena rushed out.

However, when Luis Figo was bundled off the ball by Goncalo Brandao, the next was delivered to deadly effect.

Curci punched the ball out under pressure from Ibrahimovic and after the Siena stopper saved Dejan Stankovic's follow up snapshot, Cambiasso lashed home the rebound to give Inter the edge at the break.

Inter doubled their money seven minutes after the restart.

Figo sprayed a superb pass to Balotelli who had all the time in the world to round Curci and stab the ball home.

To their credit, Siena were determined to make a game of it and after Calaio's header came back off the post, Daniele Galloppa twice had efforts beaten away by the solid Cesar.

But it was Inter who got the all-important third goal.

Ibrahimovic was found in acres of space and he smashed the ball through Curci's legs.

Mourinho took the opportunity to give Paolo Orlandoni the last ten minutes in the Inter goal and the substitute keeper had to be alert to push Galloppa's lofted shot over the bar.

Ibrahimovic's late free kick gave his opposite number Curci one last sticky moment as the hosts looked for a fourth, but as the final whistle blew, the fireworks started over the San Siro as Mourinho and the Nerazzurri celebrated in earnest