Chelsea 0-1 Inter Milan - Match Report

16 March 2010 21:51

Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho experienced a happy return to Stamford Bridge as he masterminded a famous Champions League first knockout round victory for his current side Inter Milan.

The self-proclaimed 'Special One', who spent three-and-a-half vastly successful seasons in West London, was undoubtedly the pre-match focal point and, as ever, he lived up to the billing.

Mourinho tactically outclassed old foe Carlo Ancelotti as his side thoroughly outplayed the hosts, bringing a crushing end to their 21 match unbeaten home record in the competition and with it any hope of European glory.

It was a torrid night for Ancelotti with his side slipping to only their second defeat at Stamford Bridge in all competitions this term as they sought to overcome a 2-1 deficit from the first leg, allowing the Nerazzurri to secure their progression to the quarter-finals for the first time in four seasons.

The game started frantically with both sides playing with a high tempo but ultimately lacking the creativity to unlock each other's defences, instead reverting to long balls from deep.

Brazilian full-back Maicon was the best outlet for the Italian champions in the early stages and found space well, signalling his attacking intent with a thunderous shot that flew over Ross Turnbull's crossbar.

He was involved again as the half progressed and provided striker Samuel Eto'o with Inter's best chance of the first half with an inch-perfect cross from the right, but the Cameroonian international could only steer his header into the ground and harmlessly over the crossbar.

Chelsea came into the game as the first half drew to a close with Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba both coming close to clawing Chelsea back into the tie.

But it was Nicolas Anelka who undoubtedly had the best chance of the half. The Frenchman was released into the Inter penalty area by Drogba, but having brought the ball down well, he was thwarted by a combination of onrushing goalkeeper Julio Cesar and the covering Thiago Motta.

It was Inter though who thoroughly dominated the second period and the Italians certainly had the greater openings.

Diego Milito squandered an inviting opportunity to grab a crucial away goal having been put through by the talismanic figure of Wesley Sneijder, the Argentinean dragging his left-footed effort well wide.

While Motta was also guilty of missing a good chance when he headed over a Sneijder free-kick despite being completely unmarked in the penalty area.

Carlo Ancelotti looked to utilise his bench as the tie continued to slip away from the grasps of his side and one of those substitutes, Salomon Kalou, who scored in the first leg in Milan, looked lively, but having skipped inside Maicon he blazed over as time ran out for the Blues.

Instead, Eto'o deservedly gave Inter the lead in the 79th minute, confirming the seemingly inevitable with an expert finish into the bottom left corner of the net following another excellent Sneijder pass.

Drogba was sent off in the dying minutes for a petulant stamp on Motta to compile the misery for Ancelotti's men and place even greater emphasis on Premier League success.

- Gareth Burton reports from Stamford Bridge

Source: DSG