Eto'o strike sinks Chelsea

Inter progress on Mourinho's return to his former club

Last updated: 17th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Eto'o strike sinks Chelsea

Eto'o finds the back of the net

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Samuel Eto'o netted the only goal as Inter Milan beat Chelsea to ensure Jose Mourinho enjoyed a successful return to Stamford Bridge.

The striker's 79th-minute winner was fully deserved as the Italian champions progressed into the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals 3-1 on aggregate.

Early on, Michael Ballack shot narrowly wide from distance, while Eto'o was off target with a close-range header at the other end.

Nicolas Anelka was then denied by Thiago Motta as the Blues finished the first half strongly, with Didier Drogba having a legitimate penalty claim turned down after being wrestled to the ground by Walter Samuel from a Frank Lampard corner.

In the second period, the Italians dominated, with Diego Milito shooting wide when clean through and Motta wasting a free header before Eto'o scored after being played through by Wesley Sneijder.

To compound Chelsea's miserable night, Drogba was sent off late on after stamping on Motta in the box.

Mourinho, who never lost a home league game during his time as manager at Chelsea, had begun the evening with a low profile entry from the tunnel and into his dugout seat.

Chelsea fans responded with warm applause but Mourinho refrained from hogging the limelight as he knew he and his team had a job to do.

The 'Special One' had cleverly picked an attacking side with Eto'o, Milito and Goran Pandev up front, and his plan worked superbly.

They set about the task of preserving their one-goal advantage from the opening leg with a determination and energy rarely associated with Italian teams.

They closed Chelsea down with alarming efficiency for much of the half and squandered a gilt-edged opportunity to pile on the agony for the English side.

But when the home side did get into gear, there was enough encouragement to suggest the deficit could easily be wiped out.

Just wide

In the 11th minute, Ballack collected a pass from Lampard and sent a 20-yard low drive just wide of the post.

The low intensity of the game was briefly interrupted in the 15th minute when Florent Malouda was kicked in the face by Lucio.

Drogba quickly squared-up to the Inter defender before referee Wolfgang Stark, who had a poor game, restored calm.

But the Serie A side were doing everything to protect their lead and Maicon was the hero in the 25th minute when he blocked a shot from Drogba.

Inter responded with the miss of the half from Eto'o. Maicon's cross eluded Chelsea captain John Terry and fell straight to the Inter striker at the far post.

But instead of planting his header into the net, Eto'o headed the ball down and over the cross bar.

It was a real let-off for the home side who then had two penalty claims rejected within minutes.

First Motta escaped when he rugby-tackled Branislav Ivanovic and moments later Samuel was guilty of an atrocious challenge on Drogba as the Ivorian attempted to lose his marker from a corner.

Amazingly, Stark missed both offences and Motta then cleared off the line after Anelka had turned a pass from Drogba towards the empty goal.

It had been a frustrating half for the English side and more of the same was dished-up in the second period.

Malouda briefly threatened to take the game to the Italians and his trickery earned Motta a booking in the 48th minute. It was a yellow card that will keep him out of the quarter-final.

The France winger, the architect of West Ham's downfall in the Premier League on Saturday, then forced Julio Cesar into a fine save at his near post.

Lucio was also booked by Stark and he too will miss the first-leg of Inter's quarter-final tie.

Exploit nervousness

But as the second-half wore on, Inter began to exploit Chelsea's nervousness.

Yuri Zhirkov produced a sensational block tackle to prevent Goran Pandev from putting the visitors in front on the night and in the 65th minute Milito put his shot wide with just Ross Turnbull to beat.

Moments later Motta headed over the bar from close range as Mourinho's side edged closer to the last eight.

The goal they had threatened throughout the second half finally arrived in the 79th minute when Eto'o collected a superb pass from Sneijder and ran on to fire past Turnbull.

Mourinho allowed himself a short run out of his dugout but then remembered his pledge not to celebrate and walked back to his seat.

Chelsea, who had never looked like scoring in the second half, now had to get two - a task that was clearly beyond them.

It got worse for Chelsea in the 87th minute when Drogba was given a straight red card for a stamp on Motta after the Inter player had tangled with the Ivorian.

Inter wasted another chance in the closing stages when Eto'o's shot was superbly saved by Turnbull.

But it was all academic in terms of the result and with a minute of added time to go, Mourinho ended the game with a low profile exit.

The former Chelsea boss watched the closing seconds from the sanctuary of the tunnel and disappeared at the final whistle to leave the glory and celebrations to his victorious team.

ChelseaTeam StatisticsInternazionale
0Goals1
01st Half Goals0
3Shots on Target4
5Shots off Target4
6Blocked Shots5
7Corners4
23Fouls12
3Offsides7
4Yellow Cards4
1Red Cards0
74.7Passing Success73
16Tackles23
75Tackles Success87
51.3Possession48.7
51.6Territorial Advantage48.4

Comments (9)

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Mark Hutchinson (Chelsea fan) says...

Uefa cpl what a joke.....I have never seen so much cheating by a team in a football game as that...and the ref feel for everything inter wanted....drogba got rugby tackled twice in the penalty area and ends up being sent off....but also ancelotti has not got a CLUE bring back guus asap......wrong subs again the man is cluieless!!!!!!!

Posted 23:39 16th March 2010

Apia Ogaba (Arsenal fan) says...

sad!!!! would have love to meet chelski later in the champions league to enact a good revenge after their double beating home and away this season,,,,haha!

Posted 23:16 16th March 2010

Ruben Frankish (Manchester United fan) says...

Alsways sad to see an english team go out at this stage LOL! But there's no debate over who deserved what. Milan were simply better on the night and out fought Chelski. Yes chelsea should of had a penalty but well United had 2 turned down at the weekend that were exactly the same, so the FA and refs need to sort this out cos it's very poor. But what was really annoying about this game was the amount of gamesmenship i mean every time an inter player got fouled the must of rolled around 5-6 times it was so lame... man they could have won an Oscar for their theatrics... it was like watching a team that consisted of 11 Drogba's. Good job Mourinho!

Posted 23:10 16th March 2010

Jahleel Ashriel (Chelsea fan) says...

The chelsea midfield were useless tonight. when have you ever heard of an italian midfield having superior athleticism than and premier league midfield?? Ballack: A detriment rather than a benefit to the chelsea midfield and chelsea tempo, has zero legspeed a lack of creativity time and time again games have passed him by. I stress that his lack of timing of runs, lack of co-ordination with his fellow midfielders he seems totally out of synch. when last has ballack had a positive effect for chelsea in this competition? 0 assists say it all. he was out-hustled and out-paced by a midfielder in his 30's from serie A in esteban cambiasso. too old too slow ballack is passed it. Mikel: Sneijeder created space with his superior off the ball movement, agility and athleticism, mikel competence levels are incosistent, couldnt live with sneijder in the midfield sneijder has a higher intelligence on the pitch and was able to nip mikel in a bud due to mikel lack of lack of mobility. too slow, unreliable, never shown he can dictate against an elite team. Anelka: I must question whether he is still a force at this level or is it due to the fact he hasnt been playing as a striker, having said that his form at international level has seriously regressed even playing up front. is he still champions league material? The Squad: over the hill Deco, Ballack, Belleti, Ferreira and Possibly anelka, a midfield with no mobility out-hustled by a teame playing in the slowest league in europe, a lack of creativity and imgaination, DOES THAT SOUND LIKE A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINNING SQUAD TO YOU...?

Posted 23:02 16th March 2010

Stephen Grant (Manchester United fan) says...

oops what a shame the blues are out gutted with that as a united fan would like to have seen our three english sides in the final rounds of this great cup I predict Chelsea win it next year. At least our england boys will be rested and there is still the league and fa cup to win for them now So to all the blues fans you cant be seen to be supporting Arsenal but you can cheer on United I suppose it could be the old one (fergie) verse the special one (the special one ) lol

Posted 22:58 16th March 2010

Michael Handzar (Chelsea fan) says...

Mourinho proved to be a class above Ancelloti, at Chelsea's expense. Abramovich's poor judgement now leaves the Blues in a weak position for the rest of the season, which is threatening to be a one without trophies for Chelsea.

Posted 22:53 16th March 2010

Darren Smith (Liverpool fan) says...

Gutted for Chelsea, it is turning into a season to forget for English sides. I felt Chelsea were nailed on this year and I just hope they get it together in the league and triumph come may 9th. Ancelotti has class about him and is one of the rare breed of manager in the Premier League who does not baulk at the thought of giving credit when it is due to his fellow managers and I hope he does not wake up next to the head of one of Roman's horses anytime soon, it would be a travesty.

Posted 22:46 16th March 2010

Martin Sofield (Manchester United fan) says...

Finally we see Frank Lampard playing in a blue shirt just like he plays in a white shirt. Chelsea bottled it from the word go and just haven't got the quality you need to win anything big. Big names for big games and Chelsea didn't have one. Let's hope that brings them down to earth and Man United will be Champions for the 4th time in a row. COME ON YOU REDS.

Posted 22:41 16th March 2010

Andrew Desmond (Manchester United fan) says...

The special one haunts them now, so looks like goodbye Ancelotti at the end of the season if no league title this year. Should never have got rid of Jose in the first place! One of the best managers out there. Great tactician, Great man.

Posted 22:34 16th March 2010
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