On this day in 2005, Inter and Fiorentina played out a five-goal thriller at San Siro.
The Nerazzurri, then coached by current Italy boss Roberto Mancini, had taken over in the summer of 2004 and had constructed a squad that was a mixture of experienced veterans like Edgar Davids, Seba Veron and Sinisa Mihaljovic, and youngsters like Esteban Cambiasso, Obafemi Martins and, Inter’s star player, Adriano.
On this day in 2005, Inter and Fiorentina played out a five-goal thriller at San Siro.
The Nerazzurri, then coached by current Italy boss Roberto Mancini, had taken over in the summer of 2004 and had constructed a squad that was a mixture of experienced veterans like Edgar Davids, Seba Veron and Sinisa Mihaljovic, and youngsters like Esteban Cambiasso, Obafemi Martins and, Inter’s star player, Adriano.
Fiorentina meanwhile were making their first appearance in Serie A following their financial implosion in 2001-02 which saw the club stripped of its name and relegated to Serie C2.
The Viola, now under the ownership of the Della Valle brothers, won promotion to the top flight at the earliest convenience.
By this stage in the season, Mancini’s side had only lost once in Serie A, but had drawn an incredible 17 games, including seven in a row during October and November 2004.
Inter took the lead in the opening half an hour through Cambiasso’s well-taken volley from the edge of the area.
Four minutes before half time the Viola equalised through a bicycle kick from a very fresh-faced Giampaolo Pazzini. Pazzini was so young in fact his patented goal celebration hadn’t been created yet.
Just after the half-time break Inter went ahead once more through a stunning strike from Veron.
Inter were awarded a free kick down by the right-hand touchline. Mihaljovic’s free kick down was poor by his lofty standards, with the ball skidding along the awful San Siro turf.
The ball found its way to the feet of Ivan Cordoba, who took a touch to control and then laid it off for the onrushing Veron, who smashed it past Viola keeper Sebastian Cejas. It was Veron’s third goal of the season following his loan-move from Chelsea.
Inter then added a third from a Mihajlovic corner, which found the head of the Colombian Cordoba.
Fiorentina weren’t finished however, with a header from a very young Giorgio Chiellini, then deployed at left wing-back, forcing a fine save from Francesco Toldo.
The away side would pull a goal back, as a Hidetoshi Nakata’s cross was bundled into his own net by Cordoba.
The game would finish 3-2 to the home side, who would finish the season in third place behind Milan and Juventus.
Fiorentina meanwhile would narrowly avoid relegation back to Serie B, finishing level on points with Parma and Bologna but surviving due to a better head-to-head.
The Viola would add Luca Toni to their ranks in the summer of 2005, and would transform into a much better side the following season.
Whilst Inter would again finish third in 2005-06, before the Calciopoli scandal would change everything.