Javier Zanetti bid farewell to San Siro in style as two goals from Rodrigo Palacio helped Inter to a confident 4-1 Serie A win over Lazio.
Both sides came into the clash
needing points in their quests for
European qualification, but all the
attention was on the most decorated player in Inter's history.
Fourty-year-old Zanetti, who is
Argentina's most-capped player with 145 outings, has lifted 16 trophies with the club since joining from Banfield in 1995, but his 857th appearance for Inter had to wait until the second half.
Initially the hosts appeared to be in
trouble as Giuseppe Biava put Lazio
ahead in the second minute, but Inter battled back and ultimately went into the break 3-1 up thanks to two goals from Palacio and Mauro Icardi's strike.
Zanetti was introduced to much
fanfare just after the break and
although Lazio crafted numerous
opportunities in the second period,
Hernanes sealed the result against his former club with a stunning effort from range.
Victory means Inter are all but
guaranteed a spot in the UEFA Europa League, with defeat for Lazio ending their hopes of a top-six finish.
With an expectant home crowd
displaying banners of thanks for
Zanetti, coach Walter Mazzarri was
greeted with a frosty reception from
the home faithful as word of the
Argentinian's absence from the XI
spread.
And things got even worse for him in just the second minute as Lorik Cana headed Bruno Pereirinha's free-kick back across goal for Biava to prod in.
Lazio barely held the lead for five
minutes, however, as Palacio raced on to Mateo Kovacic's defence-splitting throughball and deftly poked a clever finish past Etrit Berisha.
Proceedings quietened down after a frantic start, but Kovacic produced another moment of magic in the 34th minute, delivering a delightful outside-
of-the-foot pass to Icardi, who coolly slotted home from inside the area.
Inter doubled their advantage just
three minutes later.
Yuto Nagatomo's left-wing cross
evaded the Lazio defence and Palacio duly stroked the ball beyond Berisha's reach.
The second half endured a muted start as the inevitable arrival of Zanetti was anticipated and Mazzarri finally unleashed his captain in the 52nd minute, drawing a thunderous ovation
from the crowd.
Lazio were in no mood to stand
around and appreciate the retiring
midfielder, however, Samir Handanovic denied Biava a second with an acrobatic save to his
right, before Balde Keita inexcusably sliced a half-volley well over the crossbar from 14 yards.
Lazio's pressure continued into the
final stages, but any threat of an
unlikely comeback was thwarted with 11 minutes to go as Hernanes rifled in an unstoppable left-footed effort from 20 yards.
Zanetti was the game's final focus as he consoled a supporter who had run onto the pitch and approached him - an act met with applause from all sides of San Siro as the emotional fan was escorted from the field.
Goodbye to a TRUE servant.
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