Nigeria Content Online

Samuel
Eto’o scored another cracking goal to give Inter Milan a 1-0 win at
Cagliari on Sunday and hit back at the racist chanters who had earlier
held up the game.

The victory sent
champions Inter level on points at the top with AC Milan, who beat
Chievo on Saturday, but Lazio can claim first place outright with a win
at Bari later (1845 GMT).

Cameroon forward
Eto’o took his Serie A tally to six goals from seven games this term
and like most of his recent efforts, the 39th minute goal was a
marvellous strike.

Wesley Sneijder
hooked on and Eto’o twisted and turned like Inter’s serpent symbol on
their new away kit before planting a left-foot shot in the corner from
the edge of the box.

The absence of the
injured Diego Milito meant Eto’o could take centre stage in attack and
he looks a different player to the workhorse who toiled during last
term’s treble triumph.

His strike was the
perfect riposte to the Cagliari fans whose racist chants towards him
caused the referee to suspend the game after three minutes of play.

A public
announcement was made asking fans to stop the chants, which they did
for the rest of the match. The game restarted after around three
minutes.

Zanetti returns

The Italian soccer
federation, which has long struggled with racist fans, gave referees
the right to suspend games in case of such chanting after Mario
Balotelli was constantly abused in Inter’s match at Juventus two
seasons ago.

The game had
already caused controversy after becoming the first high-profile match
to be selected for this term’s new 1230 local time kick off, which is
aimed at catching Asian audiences but has angered Italian fans who
believe the start is too early.

The previous 1230
games have been lacklustre, partly because of the heat, but cooling
temperatures in Sardinia and two committed sides led to an engaging
encounter.

Eto’o had another
decent effort and Maicon headed wide on the stroke of halftime but the
hosts also went close when they hit the bar and Julio Cesar was forced
into a good double save.

Cagliari also had two penalty appeals for handball rejected.

As well as Milito,
Inter were without injury victims Goran Pandev and Esteban Cambiasso
with youngsters Coutinho and Jonathan Biabiany again forced to start on
the wings.

Substitute Thiago
Motta made his first appearance this term after knee surgery but looked
uncomfortable and may be doubtful for Wednesday’s Champions League
match with Tottenham Hotspur.

Javier Zanetti also returned after three weeks out.

“I’m happy, I was keen to return,” captain Zanetti told Sky.
“Cagliari put us under pressure but we deserved the lead. Eto’o is
enjoying a great moment and we hope he continues like this.”