Keane enjoys mixed fortunes

Robbie Keane got his new career with Serie A side Inter Milan off to a mixed start in Bari, southern Italy, last night. Playing in a triangular friendly with Juventus and the local side, Keane started well, showing some promising touches in Inter's opening 1-0 win against Bari.

Brought on as a substitute in Inter's second and decisive game against Juventus, however, Keane was less fortunate in an American-style, 30-yard, seven-second shoot-out. He missed his shot on goal in a shoot-out eventually won by Juventus, after the 45-minute match had finished 1-1.

Earlier, however, against Bari, Keane had shown the sort of touch that might justify his $20 million price tag, first skipping past three defenders with an impressive burst of acceleration and then, more importantly, playing a key role in the Inter goal.

Picking up possession just outside the Bari penalty area, he knocked over a precise pass to Yugoslav Vladimir Jugovic who in turn set up the 25th-minute winning goal for Chilean striker Ivan Zamorano.

Even though last night's triangular tournament came fully two months before the start of the Serie A season on October 1st, the competition for the "Birra Moretti" trophy was more than just an academic exercise for Inter who are due to meet Swedish side Helsingborg in a Champions League preliminary round tie next week.

Given that consideration, Inter coach Marcello Lippi seemed well pleased both with Keane's relative fitness and with his overall showing on his debut, saying: "Keane did well, he did some nice things."

Lippi had probably not intended to use Keane in the second and decisive game against Juventus, having started that match with a front line of Turkish striker Hakan Sukor and Uruguyan Alvaro Recoba. A knee injury to Sukor, however, prompted Lippi to send on Keane as a substitute early in the second half.

The nature of the tournament and its pre-season timing meant that Inter had fielded an improvised side against Bari with Keane being just one of five Inter "new boys" on display.

Playing on the left of attack, alongside Zamorano, Keane had looked uncertain as to his ideal position, a situation that was repeated in his brief appearance against Juventus.

Not surprisingly in the circumstances, Keane had some difficulties in linking up with his new team-mates. Furthermore, the man-to-man marking of experienced Bari defender Luigi Garzya initially seemed to hinder his progress.

Former Inter and Juventus striker Aldo Serena, one of the many VIPs in attendance at the San Nicola stadium last night, nonetheless suggested that Keane's debut had been more than satisfactory, commenting:

"He's got pace, he has good close control and he kept putting himself about. This was a good start, all that he needs now is for Inter to give him time to adapt to Italian soccer."