MILAN -
It happened in the Velodrome and it was the same story in the Stadio
Meazza: everything was decided in the last minutes and, once again,
it didn't go Inter's way. Nerazzurri hopes were raised after Milito's
goal but Brandao brought them back down to earth and Pazzini's late
penalty made no difference to the result. The final score was 2-1 in the second leg
between Inter and Olympique Marseille and saw Inter bow out of the
Champions League.
FIRST HALF – To face this Marseille side, Ranieri decided to field the same team that beat Chievo Verona in their last league match. Pazzini and Cambiasso started the game on the bench.
The
Stadio Meazza was packed with fans who were willing the Nerazzurri
through following their one-goal disadvantage from the first leg.
Valbuena was the first to try a shot on goal which Julio Cesar dealt
with easily after 2 minutes, but Inter came closer after Sneijder won
back a ball: Poli picked out Zanetti, who managed to get into the
box and cut back for Sneijder. The Dutchman shot but Mandanda managed
to get his body in the way and the French defence were able to clear
on 8 minutes. Inter were showing they were in control as Sneijder
threaded the ball though to Milito, who after chesting the ball down
saw his shot blocked by an on-form Mandanda in the 11th
minute. Azpilicueta crossed but the header was narrowly wide of Julio
Cesar's right post and that was the French team's response on 19
minutes, while Inter disappeared until the 34th
minute when a deep ball picked out Forlan, who in turn
looked for Milito, but the Argentine was beaten to the ball by
Diawara. Remy blasted from outside the box on 38 minutes, Julio
Cesar was about to intercept, but the ball went out. Sneijder was
fouled about 30 yards out and Inter were awarded a free-kick:
Sneijder took it but it went straight into Mandanda's arms. Maicon
found Forlan's head with a cross which the Uruguayan sent wide in first-half stoppage time.
Proenca
blew for half-time after 47 minutes and the teams headed for the
changing rooms with the score even at 0-0.
SECOND HALF – The second half began with the same twenty-two players on the pitch. Marseille pressed forward, Inter reacted logically, but wasted a chance in the 54th minute when Sneijder picked up a bad clearance from Valbuena and finding himself free on the left wing missed a great chance when his cross was intercepted. Sneijder asked to come off and Ranieri chose Obi to replace him, while he sent on Pazzini for Forlan in the 58th minute. The changes brought new energy and ideas to Inter's game. Obi managed to get crosses into the box, Pazzo won back the ball and headed for goal, Inter looked for spaces but the French were giving nothing away. In the 67th minute Diawara fouled Poli on the edge of the penalty area: this proved to be a great opportunity for Stankovic, but his right-foot shot just wouldn't dip under the crossbar. Valbuena crossed after 71 minutes, Diarra met it and Julio Cesar did well to put the ball wide for a corner. And it was a corner that led to Inter's first goal: Cambiasso took it, just after coming on and Milito gave the Nerazzurri the lead: there was a scramble in the box, Samuel managed to find Pazzini, Morel blocked at full stretch, but the Argentine striker was there ready to tap in. 1-0 to Inter. Pazzini fought away and won a free kick after a foul by Diawara in the 84th minute: Maicon tried to find the back of the net, but Mandanda pushed the ball away for a corner which the Colossus took. Lucio was there, the Brazilian was waiting and found Cambiasso with a touch of brilliance, who was able to rise above the defence but sent the ball over the bar by inches. In the 2nd minute of added time the Stadio Meazza was silenced. Brandao went past Samuel and, finding himself with only Julio Cesar to beat, slipped the ball between the keeper and the post with his left. At the other end of the pitch, Pazzini was brought down by Mandanda, the keeper was sent off and the Nerazzurri were awarded a penalty. Pazzo took it and scored. Unfortunately it didn't count for anything: Inter are out of the Champions League.
Inter 2-1 Olympique Marseille (HT: 0-0)
Scorers:
Milito 75, Brandao 90+2, Pazzini 90+6 (pen).
Inter:
1 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio, 25 Samuel, 55 Nagatomo; 4 Zanetti,
5 Stankovic, 18 Poli (Cambiasso 74); 10 Sneijder (Obi 58); 9 Forlan
(Pazzini 58), 22 Milito.
Unused
subs:
12 Castellazzi, 23 Ranocchia, 37 Faraoni, 28 Zarate.
Coach:
Claudio Ranieri.
Olympique
Marseille:
1 Mandanda; 2 Azpilicueta, 21 Diawara, 3 N'Koulou, 15 Morel; 4
Diarra, 17 Mbia, 18 Amalfitano, 28 Valbuena (Cheyrou 76), 20 A.Ayew
(Bracigliano 90+5), 11 Remy (Brandao 87).
Unused
subs:
13 Traoré, 24 Fanni, 12 Kaboré, 23 J.Ayew.
Coach:
Didier Deschamps.
Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal).
Yellow cards: Zanetti 24, Samuel 53, Diawara 67, Mandanda 68.
Red cards: Mandanda 90+3.
Added time: 2 + 3.
Spectators: 62,632.
