Ibrahimovic scored a goal and set up another – both in the second half – as Inter went 10 points clear of close rival AC Milan with four matches remaining in Italy’s top league.
Inter had come to the match without a win in their last three matches which allowed city rival Milan to decrease the 14-point deficit to seven and were nervous till the first half which ended in a dire 0-0 draw.
Inter’s coach Jose Mourinho was seemingly frustrated and was involved in a near-scuffle with the referee over a decision. But his decision to introduce two veterans in the second half – Argentine Hernan Crespo and French Patrick Viera – changed the things.
Relieved of much pressure after Crespo’s arrival, Ibrahimovic put Inter ahead after two minutes. In the 58th minute, he dribbled around two defenders at the edge of the box and shot a right-footer past Lazio goalkeeper Muslera.
The goal proved to be a perfect answer to Inter fans who had jeered him after missing a good opportunity a few minutes earlier – he chose to dribble around two players and lost the ball rather than placing a pass to unmarked Ghanaian player Sulley Muntari.
After 12 minutes, he once again hogged the limelight when he created the goal. He was surrounded by three players when he passed the ball to Muntari on the left and the Ghanaian put is coolly past Muslera for the roars of the Inter fans.
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