Inter Milan 2 Chelsea 1: match report

By Henry Winter Published: 7:15AM GMT twenty-five February 2010

Crunch goal: Esteban Cambiasso celebrates his winning set upon opposite Chelsea Photo: REUTERS

Chelsea felt the unpleasant feverishness of an old fire last night. Jose Mourinho masterminded a first-leg feat over his former group last night, nonetheless Chelsea returned home anticipating that Salomon Kalous afar idea proves the special one.

Kalous deserved set upon came in in in between goals from Diego Milito and Esteban Cambiasso in a fanciful diversion full of unconditional moves. All the speak of a heedful initial leg, of counsel and overload reigning, left in a fuzz of black-and-blue transformation on the representation and plumes of fume on the terraces.

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Even prior to Militos third-minute intervention, San Siro was jolt in the low foundations, following the fans mass pogo in the rave to a initial alarm that usually the arbitrate and maybe a integrate of players could presumably have heard. The sound never ebbed.

No wonder. Two great teams went for glory, the pacesetters of Serie A and the Premier League laying on a enchanting spectacle, entertainment a sporting show fit for La Scala of Italian football. A throng of 78,971 relished this football of the old school, of the schoolyard even: you attack, we attack.

Overlapping left-backs set the buccaneering tone. Florent Malouda, reprising a purpose he initial over for Lyons opposite Mourinhos Porto 6 years ago, kept attack forward. The peerless, time-honoured Javier Zanetti, evidently in counterclaim for Inter, likewise outlayed most of the compare in his opponents back-yard.

No entertain was asked, nor given. Didier Drogba became inextricable in a extensive throw with Walter Samuel, one of those imperishable Argentine defenders who could get a yellow label practising the Tango. Challenges flew in all over, Thiago Motta cautioned for a feet up on Michael Ballack that was roughly a back back yard up.

Despite losing, Chelsea played well. The stats suggested that. Carlo Ancelottis players available eight shots on aim to 3 by Mourinhos.

Chelsea forced 3 corners to the hosts none, even enjoying 56 per cent possession. But Inter had a goalkeeper in Julio Cesar, who was jaunty rebuttal personified. For a man who had usually crashed his Lamborghini, the Brazilian achieved with worthy sangfroid. He finished usually one mistake.

The compound for a classical confront was illuminated by Inter, overwhelming Chelsea with the speed and threat of their initial surge. It was a lightning set upon in each sense, Mourinhos men racing down the inside-left channel, the round issuing from Zanetti to Thiago Motta to Samuel Etoo. When Wesley Sneijder dummied, the round one after another merrily towards Milito, whose eluding of John Terry was masterful. An Argentinian called Diego artfully dodging an England defender in World Cup year? Weve been here before.

Shifting weight from left feet to right, Milito expertly sent Terry the wrong way, creation a back back yard of space prior to anticipating the opening in in in between Petr Cech and the keepers right-hand upright. Only one chairman with Inter connectors unsuccessful to celebrate. Mourinho sat quiescent in the home dug-out, his face as intractable as a chunk of the internal granite. Respect for his former players? Possibly. He additionally gimlet the see of somebody who felt he had scripted this.

San Siro dissolved in delight, quite when the cameras panned onto the pained facilities of Ancelotti, before of AC Milan. Another past valet of Rossoneri fortunes, Fabio Capello, who had jetted in from Johannesburg, cannot have been tender by the proceed Terry was held out.

Terry rallied his team, Frank Lampard began motoring forward, Malouda was constant in his transformation upfield whilst Nicolas Anelka shuttled busily in in in between midfield and the front. Chelsea refused to be daunted by the scoreline or the setting. Drogba unleashed a howling free-kick that roughly splintered the Inter crossbar. Julio Cesar retained a Drogba shot and a Ballack drive.

The diversion kept unconditional from finish to end, Milito shortly requisitioned for diving. Back came Chelsea, Drogba volleying wide. Back came Inter. This was mesmerising, Lucio, personification the pass of the night, an off-balance, crossfield ball, found Sneijder in space on the left. Inters No 10 drilled in a cranky that deserved far improved than a fluffed reply from Eto.

Sadly, a smashing half accomplished in controversy. Kalou was obviously brought down by Samuel but Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez ludicrously waved fool around on. The Spanish arbitrate who oversaw Ancelottis misfortune impulse in management, the 2005 Champions League last better to Liverpool, had undone him again.

"It looked similar to a penalty, noticed Ray Wilkins, Ancelottis assistant, frequency a man since to stoking the fires of controversy. Justice was finished 6 mins in to the second period, Chelsea deservedly equalising.

How wise that it should be Kalou swooping, carrying been so rigourously denied by Mejuto Gonzalez.

How suitable that the idea should be combined by a violent full-back, reflecting the gung-ho proceed of both sides. Branislav Ivanovic charged 50 yards, in the future slipping but handling to slip the round to Kalou as he fell. The Ivory Coast international, vindicating Ancelottis preference to replace the off-key Joe Cole, met the round initial time, pushing it past Julio Cesar. For once, the Brazilian faltered, nonetheless he saw the deflected shot late.

Inter shrugged off the mishap, display their essential element and category underneath Mourinho, reclaiming the lead inside of 4 minutes. Sneijder, who has turn such a force underneath Mourinho, finished the goal, light in a cranky from the left. Ricardo Carvalho managed to head the risk transparent but usually to Cambiasso, whose initial shot strike Terry. His second was deadly, the round speeding past Cech.

Chelseas screw afterwards fell awkwardly catching a cross, vacating on a bracket to the sympathetic, sporting acclaim of the home tifosi. At the last whistle, Inter fans distinguished as if they had reached the last eight. Chelsea will have alternative ideas at the Bridge. Its as well close to call.