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Disappointing Inter held by dogged Bremen
| Written by: AFP |
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| 2008-10-01 23:45:05 | ![]() |
MILAN, Italy (AFP) - Inter Milan suffered a Champions League setback as they were held to a 1-1 home draw in Group B on Wednesday by Werder Bremen.
It was a hugely positive result for the Germans who had failed to beat Cypriot minnows Anorthosis Famagusta at home in their opening match two weeks ago. But Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho will not have been happy after watching his side fail to win for the second match in a row, following Sunday's derby loss to AC Milan. Inter are still joint top of the group on four points with Anorthosis - who walloped Greek side Panathinaikos 3-1 - while Bremen are third with two points. Despite the dropped points, Mourinho claimed he was satisfied. "If you consider the only goal we scored against all the chances we created, it's disappointing," he told Sky Sport. "But the players handled themselves well and Werder are a good team, very dynamic. A draw home pleases no-one, not me, not the players, not the supporters. "But if you look at it in cold blood, we're top of the group on four points. I'm 100 percent certain that Inter will have qualified for the second round before our final match against Werder. We're in a good position." Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf said his team needed to do more if they are to make the knock-out stages. "With respect especially to a big team like Inter Milan but we look to win at least a point from every match, even away from home," he insisted. "To be honest we couldn't have done any worse than the first 25 minutes but in the second half we played much better. We played higher up the pitch and with more conviction. "We must do better. If we draw every match we won't be able to progress." Mourinho sprung a surprise at kick-off, picking three central strikers with Adriano and teenager Mario Balotelli flanking Zlatan Ibrahimovic. It took Inter just 20 seconds to signal their intent as Ibrahimovic broke down the left and crossed for Adriano, who controlled the ball on his chest and then swivelled to send an acrobatic volley over the bar. Adriano then returned the favour on eight minutes with a deep cross from the left that Ibrahimovic took down on his chest before his volley was blocked away for a corner. But it was some sloppy defending on 13 minutes that allowed the Italian champions to go in front as two defenders tackled Adriano only to see the ball bobble free to overlapping right-back Maicon who galloped forward and chipped goalkeeper Tim Wiese. Bremen soon responded as their Brazilian playmaker Diego stung his compatriot Julio Cesar's hands with a shot from distance. The Germans should have been level on 39 minutes as full-back Sebastian Proedl crossed from the right and Peru striker Claudio Pizarro, who played under Mourinho at Chelsea, got ahead of his man but saw his close range shot come back off the near post. For a team that had scored 10 goals in their previous two matches, Werder had offered little up front in the first 45 minutes. But they came out with more ambition after the break and were deservedly level on 62 minutes. Left midfielder Mesut Ozil switched over to the right flank and sent over a deep inswinging cross that Pizarro poked over the line with an outstretched leg at the back post. Werder were starting to take control of the match and Mourinho responded by throwing on Portugual winger Ricardo Quaresma in place of the ineffectual Serbia midfielder Dejan Stankovic. Quaresma immediately gave Inter the width they had been missing and the hosts started to look more dangerous. Mourinho also sent on Julio Cruz who five minutes from time came within inches of turning home an Ibrahimovic cross. Maicon then strode forward onto a crossfield ball from Quaresma before cutting inside and almost grabbed his second goal of the evening but his shot with the outside of his right foot clipped the post. Bremen then came within a whisker of snatching victory in injury time as Julio Cesar saved a free-kick from countryman Naldo before Pizarro lashed the rebound into the side netting. |
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Discuss- Add comment
Joga_Bonito October 2nd, 2008 12:46
Impressive goal by Maicon.I would really like to see Ibrahimovic, Adriano, and Mancini score some goals together like Matchday 1.
I was counting on Adriano to earn me some fantasy points!
Giorgio October 2nd, 2008 13:13
I am beginning to wonder if the Special One really is as special as he says he is !!!!!!!Cile_car October 2nd, 2008 20:30
Giorgio, he can be the Special One, the one he was at Chelsea. But do you really want to watch Inter play 4-5-1 - defensive football?Tontodonati October 3rd, 2008 02:04
Giorgio, nice to see you back! I hope we also hear again from Ajax72 and Newtonheath! We are the "good old boys."Giorgio October 3rd, 2008 07:39
Cile_car,The end justifies the means and if Inter should win Champions League by playing 4-5-1 defensive football, I really won't mind, regardless of what anyone else may have to say (and I'm sure quite a few individuals on this blog will have plenty to say).