Champions League: CSKA Moscow v Inter

By: Martha | October 23rd, 2007

Hold me, Max. On paper, it was a nice, safe 2-1 win for Inter, who came back after being down 1-0 at half to take three away points. In reality, though, it was entirely unpleasant, and the win came as a result of blind luck, when the ball either took a screwy bounce or the keeper closed his eyes, allowing the ball to slip in off his gloves with 10 minutes left.

Inter were under pressure for most of the first 10 minutes, giving up an early corner and scrambling in a way that called to mind their opening match in Turkey — NOT a good feeling. Though they did get their footing eventually and had more control in the second half, there was never any flow or rhythm to the game; instead, it felt like it was seconds from dissolving into chaos virtually all the time. Every move an Inter player tried failed miserably, and it seemed like any ball either team played was liable to go off a head and end up the back of a net somewhere, no matter where it was aimed. Maybe because the pitch was crap and it was cold? Or because neither team was very good? I have no idea, but it was very unsettling to watch.

Anyway, CSKA Moscow nearly look the lead just before the half hour mark when Luis Figo randomly tipped over in his own penalty area and gave the ball away. The chance was blown but, just minutes later, Jo took advantage of an Ivan Cordoba stumble to lift the ball over Julio Cesar’s head for the opener, and the Russian club took their lead into halftime. Shortly after the restart, though, Inter drew level when Miloš Krasić helped an Estaban Cambiasso (probably Inter’s best player) header into his own area off a corner, and Hernan Crespo knocked it home with only the keeper to beat.

Inter were a little more stable in the second half, and their periodic pressure paid off when Walter Samuel headed a Figo free kick right into the keeper’s hands. The man was understandably surprised and, also, probably really cold, and it went off his hand and in for Samuel’s first-ever Champions League goal and an 80th minute Inter lead. Moscow very nearly tied it seconds later, but Julio Cesar awkwardly deflected a Daniel Carvalho rocket over and Inter held on for the win, which puts them top of Group G with six points from three games; when the day ends, they’ll be no worse than one point off the top.