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Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Birth Date: October 3 1981
Birth Place: Malm?
Birth Nation: Sweden
Height: 192cm
Weight: 84Kg
Nationality: Swedish
Position: Forward
Zlatan Ibrahimovic 23 09 2007 Defending champions Internazionale suffered a shock at Livorno but recovered to draw and remain unbeaten in Serie A.
Inter came from behind twice against Serie A's bottom club and were forced to play the final 10 minutes with 10 men after Maicon was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Erjon Bogdani.
Daniele de Vezze put the hosts in front inside 60 seconds before Zlatan Ibrahimovic equalised with the first of his two goals.
Massimo Loviso restored Livorno's lead from the penalty spot but Sweden international Ibrahimovic converted a penalty 19 minutes from time to level.
Roberto Mancini watched as his side put in a second disappointing performance of the week following their 1-0 defeat to Turkish giants Fenerbache in their opening Champions League fixture on Wednesday night.
De Vezze added to the Nerazzurri's gloom before they even had time to settle at the Stadio Armando Picchi.
The midfielder controlled a long ball forward before firing a powerful shot low beyond Julio Cesar in the visitors' goal.
Alessandro Diamanti attempted to add to the scoreline four minutes later with an audacious long shot from 30 yards which never threatened to find the net.
Adriano and Ibrahimovic then combined in Inter's first attack before the tall Swede set up Maicon, but the Brazilian shot wide from the edge of the area.
Adriano tried to backheel Inter level, but Simone Pavan blocked the shot before Fabio Galante cleared the ball to safety.
Inter levelled 10 minutes before the interval when Maicon found Ibrahimovic who struck a fierce shot beyond Marco Amelia in the hosts' goal.
David Balleri had an effort saved by Julio Cesar before the visiting stopper denied Loviso moments before the break, tipping over from the edge of the area.
Julio Cesar remained the busier goalkeeper at the start of the second half.
First, he comfortably held Bogdani's weak shot after the striker was played in by Diamanti.
Two minutes later the Brazilian saved from Diamanti, who struck a well-placed shot from 20 yards.
Amelia denied Ibrahimovic from a dangerous cross before Livorno took the lead for the second time in the game.
Diamanti moved past Maicon and crossed to the far post, but Nico Pulzetti was pushed off the ball by Inter defender Luis Jimenez giving the referee no option but to point to the spot, where Loviso calmly placed the ball to the right of Cesar.
But the Nerazzurri fought back once more and when Ibrahimovic was fouled by substitute Raham Rezaei in the hosts' penalty area, the referee awarded a spot-kick which Ibrahimovic drilled low into the bottom left corner.
Maicon was dismissed to give Inter a numerical disadvantage but three minutes later they thought they had won the game when Ibrahimovic lifted the ball over Amelia following a move involving Dejan Stankovic and Aparecido Cesar but the strike was ruled out for offside.
Another miraculous save from Julio Cesar denied Livorno two minutes from time.
The Brazilian made an incredible reflex save from Bogdani's close-range header after a left-wing free-kick from Loviso.
18 09 2007 Patrick Vieira has been left out of Inter's squad to face Fenerbahce due to his injury troubles.
Coach Roberto Mancini has named a squad of 20 to select from, with relatively few surprises in the suspension-ravaged pool of players.
With Maicon, Nicolas Burdisso, Julio Cruz, and Ivan Cordoba all suspended, and Vieira joining Chivu and Materazzi on the sidelines, it's a threadbare list, particularly in defence, but one that's still considered the favourite for the match.
Ibrahimovic, Suazo and Crespo comprise the striking options, with each set to enjoy some time on the pitch in Istanbul.
Full squad of 20:
Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar, Francesco Toldo, Paolo Orlandoni.
Defenders: Javier Zanetti, Maxwell, Nelson Rivas, Walter Samuel, Dennis Esposito, Daniele Federici.
Midfielders: Dejan Stankovic, Luis Figo, Luis Jimenez, Olivier Dacourt, Esteban Cambiasso, Santiago Solari, Francesco Bolzoni, Gabriele Puccio.
Attackers: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Hernan Crespo, David Suazo.
18 09 2007 Last year's Champions League campaign, in contrast with their Serie A success, was one to forget for Inter. Placed in a group with Bayern Munich, Sporting Lisbon, and Spartak Moscow, they had a very bad start, losing their first two fixtures against the Portuguese and the Germans without even scoring a goal.
Needing to win at all costs in their next games, Inter beat Spartak Moscow twice with relative ease, before the San Siro rematch against Sporting Lisbon finished in a 1-0 win for the Nerazzurri. So they went from an almost hopeless situation after their first two games, to having qualified with a match to spare. That can't have happened too many times in the past.
After a draw against Bayern in Germany, which saw Inter finish second in the group, they were paired with Valencia in the first knockout round. The Spanish side were having an uneven season and had experienced numerous defeats to the Milan giants in recent years, so there was some optimism in the Inter camp when the draw was made.
By the time the first leg of the tie against Valencia came along (at San Siro), Inter were dominating Serie A and had already pretty much wrapped up the title race, despite it being only February. However, they had a bad night when most was expected of them, twice blowing their lead to clinical long-distance shots. The game finished 2-2 and Valencia's two away goals made them strong favorites to progress to the quarter-finals.
The return leg at the Mestalla turned out to be a muddled affair, with Inter never quite showing the determination and grit necessary to win. A series of injuries to their midfield department saw defender Nicolas Burdisso moved to the middle of the park, and the lack of creativity made it hard for Inter to create danger.
Although there were chances, in particular for striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Valencia got the draw they needed and the match predictably finished goalless. As if the early elimination of a team considered one of the favorites to go all the way were not enough, after the referee blew his whistle some Inter players lost their heads, even though it was allegedly a reserve player of Valencia, David Navarro, who started the brawl by punching Burdisso on the nose.
The likes of full back Maicon, defender Ivan Cordoba, and striker Julio Cruz, not usually known as particularly mean or aggressive players, started following Navarro around, apparently in an attempt to 'avenge' Burdisso, and chaos followed on the pitch and the player tunnels. After these ridiculous episodes, all the Inter players mentioned above were handed suspensions by Uefa, as well as Navarro.
Once again, Inter did not just get knocked out at the Mestalla, they also damaged their reputation in Europe, as their fanbase had already done two years earlier by launching flares at Milan goalkeeper Dida during the Champions League quarter-final second leg, as Inter were heading for an umpteenth early exit. The match was called off and Milan handed a 3-0 victory (even though they were winning 1-0 at the moment the referee stopped the game, after already having won the first leg 2-0).
After these humiliating and embarassing episodes, Inter are desperate to revamp their reputation in Europe with a convincing run, especially after seeing eternal rivals Milan do so well in the competition in recent years. And the aforementioned suspensions cannot be an excuse, even though a large part of their defense will be missing from this one, taking into account also the injuries to Marco Materazzi and new recruit Christian Chivu.
Inter won the Serie A by a record margin last season (97 points, 22 above second-placed Roma) and are packed with top-quality players in all departments. They started the new season decently, with two victories and a draw in Serie A, and are in second place, behind leaders Roma who have won all their matches so far. They are definitely favorites to finish first in this group, which also contains PSV and CSKA Moscow.
An away game against Turkish champions Fenerbahce, back in the Champions League after a one-year absence, is not exactly the most straightforward game for Roberto Mancini's outfit to start off with. While they are not a team with a long and proud European history, they have featured frequently in the competition recently following their debut in the 1996/97 season, in which they managed a historic win at Old Trafford against Manchester United.
Their most recent meeting with an Italian team was with Inter's 'cousins' AC Milan, in the 2005-06 season, and it is not a happy memory for them. They were playing the first match in the group stages at San Siro against the Rossoneri, and almost managed to hold on for a draw, before two late goals, one an absolute screamer by Kaka, saw them return home with a 3-1 defeat. The rematch at Istanbul saw Milan run rampant, as Andriy Shevchenko scored all four goals in an embarassing 4-0 defeat for the Turks.
Fenerbahce have faced Italian opponents six times at home, and managed to win only twice, losing all five their away games. Their most recent victory against an Italian side came in last season's Uefa Cup, when they dismissed Palermo 3-0.
Statistics aside, playing in Istanbul is always a very tough task for any European team, due to the fanatical fan groups that are always present and ready to whistle and boo every time the opposition touches the ball. Also, Fenerbahce impressed in the qualifying rounds as they easily despatched experienced campaigners Anderlecht (although the Belgians have a miserable record in the group stages of recent years) with a 3-0 aggregate victory.
They also signed high-profile names like Roberto Carlos from Real Madrid and former Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman from Atletico Madrid. Other experienced figures in the squad are former Juventus midfielder and Ghanese international Stephen Appiah, Brazilian playmaker Alex, and Argentinean defender Diego Lugano. All in all, they seem like a well-oiled unit which, despite starting poorly in the new Turkish season (two wins, two draws, and a defeat), will surely be able to give Inter problems and pose a threat in this group.
FORM GUIDE
Fenerbahce
16/09 (Turkish Superliga): Fenerbahce-Rizespor 1-1
02/09 (Turkish Superliga): Oftasspor-Fenerbahce 0-1
29/08 (Champions League 3rd qualifying round): Anderlecht-Fenerbahce 0-2
25/08 (Turkish Superliga): Fenerbahce-Sivasspor 1-0
19/08 (Turkish Superliga): Fenerbahce-Gaziantepspor 2-1
Inter
16/09 (Serie A): Inter-Catania 2-0
01/09 (Serie A): Empoli-Inter 0-2
29/08 (Gamper Trophy): Barcelona-Inter 5-0
26/08 (Serie A): Inter-Udinese 1-1
19/08 (Italian Supercup): Inter-Roma 0-1
TEAM NEWS
Fenerbahce
To be confirmed.
Possible formation (4-3-1-2): Demirel; Lugano, Edu Dracena, Turac, Roberto Carlos; Metin, Baris, M. Aurelio; Alex; Deivid, Kezman.
Inter
Marco Materazzi, Christian Chivu, and Patrick Vieira are out injured, Adriano and Cesar are off the Champions League list, while Maicon, Nicolas Burdisso, Julio Cruz, and Ivan Cordoba are all suspended (see above).
Possible formation (4-4-2): Julio Cesar; Zanetti, Rivas, Samuel, Maxwell; Figo, Cambiasso, Dacourt, Stankovic; Crespo, Ibrahimovic.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Mateja Kezman (Fenerbahce)
After performing brilliantly as a pure striker in the Dutch league for PSV for 4 years, in which he found the net 126 times, his transition to a higher European stage at Chelsea in 2004 did not go smoothly. At Stamford Bridge the Serbian managed just 5 goals in 37 appearences, so the next transfer season he was let go to Spain at Atletico Madrid. There he fared a bit better, scoring 10 times, but it was not quite enough and he was let go by the Spaniards as well. Since 2006 he's been at Fenerbahce, where he has performed reasonably well, scoring 14 times so far, and he is now a well established figure in the team.
Hernan Crespo (Inter)
Consistency is his middle name. Last weekend he was at it again, finding himself in exactly the right position to tap in the ball to open the scoring after a muddled move in the opposition area, in what was his first appearence of the season for Inter. Last summer, in fact, he participated to the Copa America, scoring three goals, so he needed to get himself back into shape. But last weekend's game proved once again that his presence guarantees goals. After being instrumental to Inter's Scudetto victory last season, scoring 14 Serie A goals, many of them decisive, the management did well to hold onto him as Chelsea, the club who still own him, once again threatened to lure him back to England.
16 09 2007 Massimo Moratti, Internazionale supremo, revealed yesterday how close he came to replacing Roberto Mancini with Fabio Capello.
The president, though, remains happy with his decision to retain the current boss. He then went on to name his all-time Inter XI - with a few surprises included.
Massimo Moratti entertained the notion of sacking Roberto Mancini last year in favour of Fabio Capello.
Capello had yet to complete his switch from arch-rivals Juventus to Real Madrid, while Mancini - of course - had not begun guiding his side to two scudetti in a row.
Moratti said to La Famiglia Cristiana, "It's true. Last year, I gave Capello some long, hard thought. But I kept faith in Mancini. That decision has well and truly paid off."
Moratti seems set to retain that faith heading into the new campaign as Inter prepare to take on first Catanai in Serie A and then Fenerbahce in the Champions league.
And Massimo expects victory in both games, saying, "We are obliged to defend the scudetto, while we are duty-bound in the Champions League."
Calciopoli saw Inter given something of a head start over many of their rivals last season in the league and, although their Serie A victory came with a massive margin of points, some still see it as less of an achievement.
This seems to add extra impetus to Moratti's desire to defend the title, although he denies that this is the case.
"I'm not aiming for another league title simply because some people think the last one was 'damaged'. That was always just an excuse for those who can't see the serious reasons for our win, and those without a squad that can compete with ours."
Finally, the boss was asked to name his all-time Inter XI.
He picked, "Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ronaldo (in his first season here), Luis Suarez, Mariolino Corso, the entire defence of the Grande Inter, plus Javier Zanetti. I'd also pick Antonio Valentin Angelillo, Lennart Skoglund, Benito Lorenzi, and then Giuliano Sarti in goal. I'm sorry that I offended so many by leaving them out!"
The Grande Inter side refers to the twice-European Cup-winning side of the mid 1960s, led by Helenio Herrera and featuring the likes of Tarcisio Burgnich, Aristide Guarneri and Giacinto Faccheti at the back.
14 09 2007 The mother of Inter star Adriano is on her way to Italy to meet up with her son and thanks the Nerazzurri for sticking by the troubled striker.
Since bursting onto the Serie A scene with Fiorentina in 2002, Adriano soon developed into one of the most feared strikers in world football.
However over the past couple of seasons the Brazilian has been beset by problems off the field and 'The Emperor', despite being just 25-years-old is a pale shadow of the once great player.
Despite being the club's fifth choice striker behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Hernan Crespo, David Suazo and Julio Cruz, Inter decided to keep hold of Adriano, a gesture that the Brazilian's mother is very grateful for.
'I can only do one thing and that is to thank Inter,' Rosilda Ribeiro said.
'I am coming to Italy to be with my son as it is at a time when he really needs me. I want to stay at his home and talk to him, and find out what is happening to him. I must repeat my thanks to the entire society of Inter,' she concluded.
Adriano's recent problems were compounded when he was left out of Inter's Champions League squad. This means he is ineligible to play in the group-stages of Europe's premier club competition.
11 09 2007 Milan's Brazilian ace Kaka has beaten Francesco Totti to win the title of calcio's top earner and the Rossoneri have Serie A's biggest wage bill.
According to research printed in La Gazzetta dello Sport, Kaka's annual salary of £4m is unmatched in the peninsula with Totti's £3.7m haul his closest rival.
Inter trio Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Patrick Vieira and the troubled Adriano are all trailing behind with a modest £3.4m alongside Azzurri goalkeeper Gigi Buffon at Juventus.
Nerazzurri new boy Cristian Chivu is the biggest winner of the summer as his new deal will net him £2.3m, narrowly more than Milan's Emerson and fellow Beneamata newcomer David Suazo.
While Milan and Inter's wage bills are almost equal - £80m and £74m respectively – and Juventus are paying £66m, Roma are the most shrewd giants with just £40m to their name.
City rivals Lazio are also unexpectedly frugal with just £12m spent annually, while Cagliari have the tightest hold on the purse strings as they pay just £7.5m per year – less than it would cost to employ just Kaka and Totti.
02 09 2007 Adriano will not grace the Champions League stage this season after Inter omitted him from their squad list.
The club released their 25-strong squad list for the 2007-08 campaign just prior to the midnight deadline on Saturday when coach Roberto Mancini confirmed the Brazilian would not be part of their European campaign.
Reacting to the news, keeper Francesco Toldo said: "These are difficult choices to comment on. It is a shame that someone like him should be left out of such an important list. He is young and will have time to make up for it, proving just what he can do."
There are reports in Italy suggesting there is an ulterior motive for his omission with the club not wanting him cup-tied in Europe so he is an attractive proposition for a big club in January.
However, the fact remains he is now well down the pecking order at the San Siro with Mancini preferring to use Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Suazo, Hernan Crespo or Julio Cruz ahead of him.
31 08 2007 Roberto Mancini warns Adriano could be excluded from Inter's Champions League squad and is dropped again this weekend.
The Brazilian may be staying after he rejected loan moves to Parma, West Ham United, Lazio and Manchester City, but he'll be in the stands for much of the campaign.
As the Nerazzurri have several players sitting out European bans for last year's quarter-final brawl with Valencia, they are forced to double up several of their roles for the group phase of the competition.
Nicolas Burdisso is banned for eight games – two of which are on probation for a two-year period – while Douglas Maicon is suspended for three (plus another three on probation).
Ivan Cordoba sits out a two-match ban (and a third on probation), plus Julio Ricardo Cruz is sidelined for two games.
Originally Santiago Solari had been the number one candidate to step aside, but it is now reported that Adriano could be the man to make way.
'It is a possibility, but not just for him,' said Mancini in today's Press Conference.
'There are rules to be respected and we stand by them. We are taking all the time necessary to choose the option that will prove less difficult for everyone. Leaving out Adriano could give him some problems, because he would not be able to play in the Champions League, but it would allow him to train regularly during the week for Serie A.'
Yet L'Imperatore does not appear to be in Mancio's plans for the Scudetto race either. He has been dropped from the Italian Super Cup and the Serie A opener with Udinese, while Adriano's name does not appear in the squad for Saturday's trip to Empoli either.
Even after Alvaro Recoba's loan move to Torino, there still seems to be no space at all for Adriano in this Inter side.
'We don't need to do anything in particular different from what we have done until now. We have always tried to get him back to his best, but we cannot do it alone. Adri has to give us a hand, as it also depends on him. A large percentage of what we will achieve will come from what he wants to do and how much hunger he has. Alone we cannot do anything, but with hard work and effort from both sides we can achieve something more.'
Mancini and President Massimo Moratti publicly urged him to accept a loan move to help rediscover his form, but Adriano turned down any temporary proposal.
'He really cares for Inter and wants to do well here. That, for a start, is a great motivational factor,' added the Coach.
'We have never said we wanted to send him out on loan, we were just trying to find the best solution for all concerned. That could well have been letting him play regularly and without pressure.'
Mancini has called up 20 players for Saturday's Serie A visit to Empoli. Adriano has not been included, along with the suspended Julio Cesar.
Inter squad: 1 Francesco Toldo, 22 Paolo Orlandoni, 71 Enrico Alfonso; 2 Ivan Ramiro Cordoba, 6 Maxwell, 13 Maicon, 16 Nicolas Burdisso, 25 Walter Samuel, 26 Cristian Chivu; 4 Javier Zanetti, 5 Dejan Stankovic, 7 Luis Figo, 15 Olivier Dacourt, 19 Esteban Cambiasso, 21 Santiago Solari, 31 Cesar; 8 Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 9 Julio Ricardo Cruz, 18 Hernan Crespo, 29 David Suazo.
25 08 2007 As Inter open the door for Adriano's loan spell, it emerges Sven Goran Eriksson asked to have L'Imperatore at Eastlands.
It is claimed in today's newspapers that Eriksson rang his former Lazio assistant manager Roberto Mancini to request the player for Manchester City.
The Brazilian reportedly turned down a temporary transfer to Parma over the last few hours, preferring to prove himself at San Siro and win back his place.
However, the Nerazzurri are more than willing to release him to a smaller club so that he can rediscover his form by playing regularly without the kind of pressure that comes with the Scudetto holders.
Currently Adriano is one of the last picks behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Suazo, Hernan Crespo, Julio Ricardo Cruz and possibly also Alvaro Recoba. He was even left in the stands for the Italian Super Cup, which Inter lost 1-0 to Roma.
'Our intention is to get Adriano back to his natural levels – which are very high – as soon as possible,' noted President Massimo Moratti in the 'Gazzetta dello Sport.'
'We will follow the best possible path, agreeing everything with him and the team. I think he can remain, but if the best option proves to be a loan, then we will take it into consideration.'
Valencia are also interested in taking the Brazilian this season and agent Gilmar Rinaldi is jetting in to Italy for talks this weekend.
05 08 2007 Robin van Persie netted the goal which won Arsenal the Amsterdam Tournament - but was then carried off against Ajax.
A match which was a physical, and often bad-tempered affair, was settled by finish from the Dutchman with just three minutes left.
However, the former Feyenoord player then had to be helped from the field following a heavy challenge from Johnny Heitinga, but was able to soon rejoin his team-mates as they celebrated a second pre-season tournament win.
Aston Villa warmed up for the new Premier League season with a commanding 3-0 win over Italian champions Inter Milan at Villa Park.
Inter, who beat Manchester United 3-2 at Old Trafford earlier in the week, were a goal down in the 14th minute when Gareth Barry slotted home from Stiliyan Petrov's cross.
Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic dragged a shot wide two minutes before the break and three minutes into the second half Villa doubled their lead.
Barry's free-kick into the box was headed home by former AC Milan defender Martin Laursen. The third came midway through the second half when Gabriel Agbonlahor advanced into the box and was tripped by Walter Samuel, Barry converting the penalty.
Tottenham boss Martin Jol opted for Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov up front and was rewarded with a goal from each in a 2-0 win over Torino.
Keane volleyed the home side in front in the 16th minute at White Hart Lane after the visitors failed to clear a free-kick.
Berbatov was then gifted a simple tap-in on 65 minutes when Steed Malbranque collected Pascal Chimbonda's cross, rounded the goalkeeper and rolled the ball across the box.
Spurs have now won seven out of seven in their pre-season programme ahead of next week's league opener at Sunderland.
Valencia spoiled Sven-Goran Eriksson's Manchester City welcoming party by triumphing 1-0 at Eastlands to leave the new manager with plenty of work to do before the Premier League opener at West Ham next week.
With five new signings in his starting line-up, some of whom the former England manager had never even seen play, there was always going to be an element of the unknown about the clash with one of Spain's four Champions League entrants.
Eriksson would certainly have been able to pick a few positives out of the narrow defeat, not least the performance of young midfielder Michael Johnson.
But David Silva's early winner, combined with a series of missed chances including two by star striker Rolando Bianchi, suggested it may take some time for Eriksson's new-look side to gel.
Owen Hargreaves finally made his Manchester United debut as the Premier League champions enjoyed a comfortable 3-1 win over Peterborough.
Hargreaves played 45 minutes after coming on as a subsitute and looked back to his best in his traditional holding role in midfield.
He was the only first-team player of note in a youthful United side that proved too strong for Peterborough, managed by Sir Alex Ferguson's son Darren.
Adam Eckersley gave Ferguson senior's side the lead in the 23rd minute when the left-back fired a powerful shot beyond Posh goalkeeper Shwan Jalal.
Ferguson junior looked to have pulled off a masterstroke when Rene Howe, a half-time subsitute, levelled matters with a fine shot four minutes after the restart.
But United were always the stronger and they made their fitness tell later in the second half with goals from Richie Jones in the 72nd minute and a third from Fangzhuo Dong 10 minutes later.
Portsmouth's new recruit David Nugent was on target as they came from behind to beat Leicester 3-1 in a pre-season friendly at the Walkers Stadium.
Iain Hume put the Foxes ahead in the 14th minute when a clever ball from Mark de Vries put him through on goal.
Pompey levelled six minutes later though as £6million signing Nugent, who had come close to scoring twice before in the early stages, sidefooted in Arnold Mvuemba's cross.
Nugent turned provider for the second as Lomana LuaLua latched onto his cross to score.
LuaLua was then heavily involved in Portsmouth's third as his good work presented substitute Franck Songo'o with a chance to drill home from the edge of the box with eight minutes to go.
Ricardo Vaz Te and Gary Speed were both on target as Bolton recorded a 2-1 win at Championship club Colchester.
The visitors found themselves a goal down in the fifth minute when former Charlton striker Kevin Lisbie was given too much space in the area and fired past Ali Al-Habsi.
That lead was shortlived though as Wanderers hit back with two goals in as many minutes.
Speed swept home the leveller from the penalty spot after Vaz Te had been tumbled over by Mark Yeates - comfortably beating Dean Gerken in the home goal.
First-half goals from Stewart Downing and Yakubu gave Middlesbrough a 2-0 win over AZ Alkmaar.
Andrew Taylor, Julio Arca and Jeremie Aliadiere all combined to set up Downing and the England winger comprehensively beat visiting goalkeeper Sergio Romero with a fierce left-footed drive.
Boro's second, and clincher, came just 14 minutes later when Taylor's cross from the left found the head of Yakubu who powered his effort beyond Romero from six yards.
Long-term injury absentee Dean Ashton was back on the scoresheet for West Ham as they came from behind to beat Roma 2-1 at Upton Park.
The visitors took a 13th-minute lead through Ludovic Giuly, before West Ham equalised as George McCartney headed in Freddie Ljungberg's corner in the 63rd minute.
Three minutes later Alan Curbishley's side were in front as Ashton, who missed the whole of last season with an ankle injury, cut in from the right wing and fired in a shot from an acute angle.
Sunderland warmed up for their season opener against Tottenham next week with an entertaining 1-1 draw with Juventus.
Daryl Murphy gave Roy Keane's side the lead when he stabbed home after Ross Wallace's seventh-minute corner was headed into the danger area by Dickson Etuhu.
Cristian Molinaro grabbed a deserved equaliser for the Italian side with two minutes left, the substitute smashing a powerful drive into the roof of the net.
Jason Koumas scored both goals as Wigan beat crisis club Leeds 2-1 in a pre-season friendly at Elland Road.
Koumas put the Premier League side in front just a minute before the interval, slotting home after good work from Emile Heskey.
Jermaine Beckford equalised 10 minutes into the second half but Koumas sealed victory with a deflected free-kick on 69 minutes.
Reading warmed up for the start of the season with a 3-2 victory against Wolves at Molineux.
Seyi Olofinjana opened the scoring with a header from Gary Breen's 14th-minute cross but Reading were level within three minutes through Stephen Hunt.
Bryn Gunnarsson then put Steve Coppell's side in front and Dave Kitson diverted home a shot from Hunt just seconds before the interval.
Jay Bothroyd pulled one back for Mick McCarthy's side six minutes from time.
Blackburn showed their Premier League class to comfortably see off Lancashire rivals Preston 3-0 at Deepdale.
Centre-back Christopher Samba scored twice with fellow defender Andre Ooijer putting Rovers ahead in the first minute.
Steve Howard produced a late equaliser as Derby ended their pre-season preparations with a lively 2-2 draw against UEFA Cup finalists Espanyol.
Marc Torrejon's own goal gave the Rams a 1-0 half-time lead but Sergio Sanchez pulled the La Liga side level before Luis Garcia converted a controversial penalty.
Everton were held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in their final pre-season friendly.
Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp scored on his return to Bramall Lane to hand the Blades a 1-0 friendly win over Nottingham Forest.
The 21-year-old learnt his trade in the United academy but was unable to break into the first team under Neil Warnock, who allowed him to leave for Scunthorpe in 2005.
Sharp's former team-mates at Scunthorpe had to settle for a 1-1 draw in their Lincolnshire derby with Grimsby at Blundell Park as Andy Crosby opened the scoring for the Iron before having to leave the pitch.
And it was his replacement Andy Butler who scored an own goal to level for the League Two side.
Southampton recorded a 1-0 win at Brentford thanks to Marek Saganowski's finish from Nathan Dyer's cross just after the interval.
Championship new boys Bristol City had to settle for a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth at Ashton Gate after twice falling behind. Brian Wilson and Louis Carey were the men to find the net for Gary Johnson's side.
Barnsley completed their pre-season programme with a shock 2-0 defeat to Bury at Gigg Lane courtesy of goals from Richie Baker and Dave Challinor.
Blackpool, also looking forward to their Championship debut next weekend, crashed 2-1 at Carlisle.
David Fox gave the Seasiders the lead with a fabulous volley, but United hit back after the interval and goals from Chris Lumsdon and Danny Graham were enough to claim the win.
Hull rounded off pre-season with a goalless draw against Belgian club Antwerp at KC Stadium.
Dagenham warmed up for their Football League bow next weekend with a 2-1 win over Fisher Athletic, Paul Benson and Jon Nurse finding the net.
Robbie Fowler made his first appearance for Cardiff in their 1-0 win over Dutch opponents Twente at Ninian Park.
The former Liverpool striker's debut lasted just 24 minutes, however, as he struggled to shake off the effects of a thigh injury suffered in training earlier this week.
Warren Feeney scored the only goal, smashing home from Trevor Sinclair's free-kick.
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