CL: Inter Milan - CSKA Moscow (Nov 7/07)

[Jager]

Julio Cesar in porta; Maicon, Cordoba, Samuel e Chivu in difesa; Zanetti, Dacourt, Cambiasso e Maxwell a metà campo; Ibra e Crespo in attacco.


Maxwell and Dacourt find their way into their defense, we'll see how Maxwell does in midfield, I feel he'll play a lot now with Figo injured.

[Jager]

CSKA open the scoring against the run of play, with an a good strike with JO.

We need to wake up.

[Jager]

We have some really bad defending at the Meazza today.

After falling behind by two goals, yes two goals...they have come back to level it up at 2-2.

Zlatan and Crespo.

[Jager]

First half over, I really liked the offensive side of things, even when we were down by two, but we have to tighten up, and I think Mancini is doing that now, as he tears a strip off his players.

[Doc-Bhoy]

What a goal by Ibra, cracker.

[lionel]

what a match! amazing!

cambiasso scored two and zlatan two.

zlatan's second will have to compete with tarek's goal from yesterday for the best goal of this MD...

cambiasso's first was after a smart play of crespo and cambiasso's second was after a beauty assist from julio cruz. I love inter... its a second argentina. don't forget the best of them all, javier zanetti, who was good today also, creating a scoring chance to cambiasso.

inter need to win one more match to qualify from the first place.

[Jager]

I cautiously optimistic that we can qaulify first, but we have to be more decisive from the opening whistle. If we fall behind against a qaulity opponent like that, we will NOT come back.

Having said that, its amazing we can lose three CMs, and still play well there......not sold on Maxwell in midfield though.

[Jager]

Inter - CSKA 4-2
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Ibra's incredible goal.

[D-Kin]

Champions League, Gp G Matchday 4 - 7/11/07 (19.45)
Inter 4 - 2 CSKA Moscow
Jo 23 (C), Vagner Love 31 (C), Ibrahimovic 32, 75 (I), Cambiasso 34, 67 (I)
Stadio Meazza

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Inter completed an astonishing comeback from 2-0 down against CSKA Moscow to win 4-2 with a splendid Zlatan Ibrahimovic brace.

Roberto Mancini was dealing with an injury crisis in midfield, as Luis Figo, Dejan Stankovic and Patrick Vieira were sidelined, while Marco Materazzi also sat out a long-term problem. This forced a reshuffle, so Javier Zanetti and Maxwell both pushed further forward with Cristian Chivu taking a left-back role. Inter had won 2-1 in Moscow, so CSKA needed a victory to avoid crashing out of the competition, having just one point from three games.

A deflection prevented Zlatan Ibrahimovic from tapping in early on, but CSKA were surprisingly confident and went close with two Vagner Love strikes that were just off target.

Esteban Cambiasso set up Douglas Maicon for a right-foot effort that skimmed the post, while Zanetti had a penalty appeal rejected and Ibra's spectacular backheel proved futile, as the ball had already crossed the byeline.

CSKA took a shock lead to silence the San Siro after 23 minutes. Jo picked up the ball on the edge of the area and smashed a powerful and precise finish to the right of Julio Cesar.

The Russians did not sit back and try to control the 1-0 advantage, as moments later Krasic fired over. Maicon and Ibra exchanged passes in the area, the Swede's finishing not equal to the build-up. Ibrahimovic also turned a header over.

Incredibly, CSKA went 2-0 up with Brazilian Vagner Love shaking off challenges from both Olivier Dacourt and Ivan Cordoba on the counter-attack to beat Julio Cesar. The long ball through the middle seemed easy enough to deal with, but Vagner Love squeezed between the two players and kept the ball glued to his foot.

Ibrahimovic got Inter back into the game almost immediately. A long Chivu free kick found the Inter striker in the six-yard box for a marvellous volley with the inside of his right foot.

Within a couple of minutes it was 2-2! Hernan Crespo's smart dummy on a Maicon pass allowed Cambiasso to go clear through the centre where he slid the low finish past Igor Akinfeev to turn it all around in the space of 120 seconds.

Crespo chested down Cambiasso's assist and it took a crucial Anton Grigoriev challenge to prevent another goal. Dacourt's ball flashed across the face of goal, as Crespo just failed to get on the end of it. Crespo tripped up during a move and couldn't get his footing back in time to fire in Cambiasso's assist, while Zanetti fired just past the base of the upright.

Straight after the restart CSKA were back to their aggressive best with Julio Cesar capturing a Daniel Carvalho snapshot and a dangerous Yuri Zhirkov run was cut short by his handling offence before Vagner Love found space to drill wide from he D.

Inter should have taken the lead as Cambiasso pounced on a dreadful Akinfeev goalline clearance, but Crespo couldn't get the decisive touch on to Ibra's low pass towards the back post.

There was an even clearer opportunity moments later, Maxwell finding Ibrahimovic and the Swede's lobbed finish flashed across the face of goal to dribble inches past the far post.

Crespo made way for Julio Cruz, but it was Cambiasso who missed an open goal. Zanetti won back the ball and sprinted past a group of CSKA players to chip a cross to the back post where the Argentine incredibly turned a free header all the way across a totally open goal.

Inter were almost made to pay for that error, as Cordoba's sliding tackle blocked Vagner Love as he pulled the trigger in the box. Chivu's free kick curled inches over the bar.

The Nerazzurri finally took the lead for the first time in the match and it was an all-Argentine affair. Cruz flicked a corner up with his heel for Cambiasso totally unmarked to volley under the bar from six yards. The midfielder had not scored at all this season, but got a brace on one night.

Ibra nodded Chivu's taut cross over, then the Swede had a penalty shout rejected for Grigoriev's handling offence.

Ibrahimovic made it 4-2 with a spectacular individual effort. He spun round between two defenders with his first touch and unleashed an unstoppable rocket into the near top corner that left the goalkeeper rooted to the spot. Ibra was given a standing ovation by San Siro as he made way for David Suazo and the Honduran had a clear shot on goal charged down by Grigoriev.

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Inter: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Cordoba, Samuel, Chivu; Zanetti, Cambiasso, Dacourt, Maxwell (Solari 66); Ibrahimovic (Suazo 84), Crespo (Cruz 63)

CSKA Moscow: Akinfeev; V Berezutski (Eduardo 70), Grigoriev, A Berezutski; Krasic, Dudu (Taranov 83), Rahimic, Zhirkov; Carvalho, Jo (Aldonin 46), Vagner Love

Ref: Allaerts (Bel)

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[D-Kin]

Mancini: Inter took a nap Wednesday 7 November, 2007

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Roberto Mancini believes the fans expected CSKA to roll over and that affected Inter’s shaky early performance.

“To be honest, perhaps the atmosphere before the game made it seem like an easy match and there weren’t many people there,” said the Coach after his side fought back from 2-0 down to win 4-2.

“The second goal in particular woke us up. We knew it was a tough encounter, as they have such good forwards, but it took two goals to shake us out of that stasis.

“We were a little too soft on the ball and going 2-0 down gave us the stimulation we needed to get into the game, so in the end that start proved to be a blessing in disguise.”

CSKA Moscow had just one point in three games, but were aggressive from the start and took a 2-0 lead through Jo and Vagner Love.

“It’s not that we underestimated CSKA, it was the atmosphere at San Siro before kick-off. It did not give us the right approach,” insisted Mancini.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Esteban Cambiasso grabbed a brace apiece to turn the tie around and keep Inter on top of their Champions League group.

“Ibra’s second goal was fantastic, but so was Cambiasso’s on the Hernan Crespo dummy. It was an entertaining match in the end!”

Mancio had to reshuffle his squad for this match, as Luis Figo, Dejan Stankovic, Patrick Vieira and Marco Materazzi are injured.

“Maxwell was a little further up than usual and he’s not used to that position, so we struggled overall. It went better when we changed the system.

“On the one hand the injuries are helping me as I don’t have many choices to make! But in truth I would prefer having all of them at my disposal.”

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[D-Kin]

Zanetti zooms in on next phase Wednesday 7 November, 2007

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Inter captain Javier Zanetti trusts his team are “practically qualified” for the knockout stage, but they needed “two slaps” to wake them up.

“We knew how important this game was, as with a victory we’d be practically qualified. We played very well, especially after that shaky start, but showed excellent character to fight back,” he said of the 4-2 win over CSKA Moscow.

The Nerazzurri had gone 2-0 down at San Siro before two goals in the space of 120 seconds drew them level.

“We did not have a good start and allowed CSKA far too much space and gave away those two goals. Luckily, those two slaps woke us up and prompted us to bring out our character and pride,” continued the captain.

Zanetti was played in a wide midfield role because of injuries to Dejan Stankovic, Luis Figo and Patrick Vieira.

“Unfortunately we are missing several key figures, but the squad is so large that we can overcome those obstacles.

“I am happy playing in midfield, but considering all the difficulties I will play wherever the Coach needs me. The important thing is to be on the field.”

As Fenerbahce beat PSV Eindhoven 2-0 this evening, the Turks are just one point shy of Inter, but Roberto Mancini’s men are five points clear of third place.

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[Jager]

Zanetti was incredible today, he is just immense in midfield.

[Amuro^Mushashi]

wow 4-2, wat a good result after down 2-0... fuh... superb match.. very enjoyed it

[D-Kin]

Cambiasso thanks Inter Thursday 8 November, 2007

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Esteban Cambiasso is celebrating his first Champions League brace for Inter. "This is the best period of my career."

The former Real Madrid midfielder netted a double in the 4-2 win over CSKA Moscow last night and had a special thanks to Hernan Crespo for the dummy that set up his opener.

"Seeing a striker who makes those movements and can leave the ball for a midfielder says so much about Hernan," he enthused.

"He heard my call and so we scored a great goal."

It was a crucial strike, as Moscow had taken a 2-0 lead before Zlatan Ibrahimovic's close-range volley and 120 seconds later Cambiasso equalised.

"CSKA took control from the start and we were unable to play our usual football.

"These things happen, but thankfully we have a strong squad and were able to turn the situation around.

"I hope it doesn't repeat itself, as it is very difficult to overcome a 2-0 deficit in modern football, especially in the Champions League."

This is Cambiasso's second brace in an Inter jersey – the first in the Champions League – and he insists he has no problem with the gruelling schedule of Scudetto and European contenders.

"Anyone who has played football knows that it is wonderful to be out there. We don't have time to train, really, so we eat, sleep and play!

"We have been working together for a long time, so a word from the Coach can change the game and everyone is on the same page tactically," continued the Argentine.

"This is the best period of my career. I have always said I am happy at Inter and it is so important for a player to feel the faith of the club, Coach, teammates and fans.

"I feel that faith and it pushes me to do things I wouldn't normally do, such as go forward and try to score. When a player is happy, he can always give a little something more."

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