 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Inter Milan came from behind with two second-half goals to snatch a 2-1 away win at CSKA Moscow in their UEFA Champions League Group G match in Moscow on Tuesday.
Hernan Crespo equalised in the 52nd minute and fellow Argentine Walter Samuel capitalised on the goalkeeping blunder by CSKA's Veniamin Mandrykin 10 minutes from time to secure victory for the Italian champions.
Brazilian striker Jo opened the scoring for the Russian champions in the 32nd minute but the home side lost their way in the second half, extending their winless streak in the Champions League to six games.
The win moved Inter top of Group G with six points from three matches, one point ahead of Turkey's Fenerbahce. CSKA remain rooted to the bottom of the group with just one point from three matches.
The Russians, looking for their first victory in Europe's premier club competition since they beat Arsenal 1-0 in Moscow a year ago, pushed forward from the start.
They wasted their first good chance after half an hour when Yuri Zhirkov stole the ball from Luis Figo, who was making his 100th Champions League appearance, to set up Dudu, but the Brazil international just missed from close range.
RISING SHOT
However, Jo made no mistake two minutes later when he freed himself from Inter fullback Ivan Cordoba and beat goalkeeper Julio Cesar with a rising shot from 15 metres.
At the other end, Mandrykin made a great diving save to deny Zlatan Ibrahimovic with a point-blank header.
Inter were forced to reshuffle their midfield after just 16 minutes when France international Patrick Viera made way for Dejan Stankovic after not fully recovering from a hamstring strain.
The Russians also had to make two changes due to injury in the first half, losing Dudu and Russia international fullback Alexei Berezutsky.
Inter began to pile the pressure on the home side and drew level early in the second half.
Crespo was left unmarked in front of the goal and the former Argentina striker calmly converted his chance to make it 1-1. The game remained level until 10 minutes from time when Mandrykin unexpectedly fumbled a simple-looking header by Samuel to gift the visitors the three points.
CSKA coach Valery Gazzayev blamed his defence and goalkeeper for their second defeat in three games. "You can't expect to win if you make such huge errors," he said.
