Inzaghi Dedicates Goal to His Mother
BRUSSELS, June 24 (Reuters)(DS) - Italy's Filippo Inzaghi scored his first goal in open play for more than three months at Euro 2000 on Saturday and dedicated it to his mother, who had not seen him play for over two years.
Inzaghi's mother Marina was in the stands when her son split his lip during a European Cup semifinal against Monaco in 1998. The Juventus striker had to have stitches in the gash and is still scarred.
"Ever since I hurt myself in Monte Carlo my mum hadn't been to the stadium to see me play because that time she and my dad were both there and she was really afraid," Inzaghi said after scoring Italy's second goal in their 2-0 Euro 2000 quarter-final defeat of Romania.
"This evening she returned to the stadium for the first time since then and I want to dedicate my goal to them." Inzaghi, one of the most consistent strikers in Serie A, had hit a barren spell and had not scored in open play for either club or country in his last 14 appearances.
He scored his last goal for Juventus on March 12 and had only scored once for Italy since then -- from the penalty spot in his side's defeat of Turkey in their opening match of Euro 2000.
"I'm very happy. we had a good game and we did some good things tonight," said Inzaghi, who also hit the post. "But this is not a turning point. I'm happy I've scored in open play but the greater joy is that Italy have won and have qualified for the semifinals."
