EXTREMELY LATE REPORT: Inter 2 - 1 Villarreal

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Champions League Q/F, 1st leg - 29/3/06 (19.45)


Forlan 1 (V), Adriano 7 (I), Martins 54 (I)


Stadio Giuseppe Meazza

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Inter recovered from Villarreal's goal after just 45 seconds to win 2-1 at San Siro with Adriano and Oba Martins, but it's not much of a comfort zone going into the second leg in Spain.

The Nerazzurri had Luis Figo out injured, so Cesar Aparecido and Alvaro Recoba were in the starting line-up. Despite his dismal form of late, Adriano retained his place upfront. Villarreal have scored just six goals in the entire competition so far this season, but had Alessio Tacchinardi, Rodolfo Arruabarrena and Josico suspended for the first leg.

Incredibly, Villarreal took the lead within the opening 45 seconds at the San Siro. Ex-Milan man Jose Mari sprinted between Walter Samuel and Pierre Wome and, although Francesco Toldo parried the shot, he could do nothing on former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan's follow-up from close range.

Adriano almost snatched an equaliser moments later, but his lob was cleared off the line by Javi Venta.

It was the worst possible start for Inter, but they rediscovered L'Imperatore at the right time. Dejan Stankovic's low cross went past Juan Manuel Pena and Adriano pushed in from six yards to equalise.

It was a lively start to the game as goalkeeper Sebastian Viera rushed off his line to close down Adriano running on goal, then Toldo performed a save on Javier Calleja.

Adriano nodded a Stankovic cross over the bar and Toldo got control of Forlan's left-foot strike.

Viera flew to push one of Recoba's trademark left-foot strikes round the post on 26 minutes, but the Uruguayan picked up a knock early on and was forced to limp off soon after to make way for Obafemi Martins.

A powerful and low free kick from Juan Roman Riquelme was just wide of the upright, while a sliding Gonzalo Rodriguez tackle stopped new entry Martins getting on the end of a Juan Sebastian Veron pass.

Adriano's free kick skimmed the post and Stankovic set up a good chance for Cesar, but the former Lazio winger's shot was charged down.

Inter captain Javier Zanetti drilled over the bar at the end of a mazy run in which he went past four opponents.

Adriano had an excellent opportunity to give Inter the lead on the stroke of half-time, but turned his free header wide of the target with only the goalkeeper to beat on Zanetti's cross. The Brazilian also curled a free kick over in stoppages.

After the restart, a fine Cesar cross reached Martins in the centre, but he failed to turn in the diving header, as he couldn't quite make contact.

Toldo sprinted off his line to close down Forlan's counter-attack, but Veron's set-piece took a deflection and troubled Viera.

Inter took the lead for the first time on 54 minutes with substitute Martins making up for that earlier error. Stankovic lobbed Juan Pablo Sorin and his cross missed Adriano, but the little Nigerian backheeled it in at the back post for a fantastic finish.

Only a crucial intervention from Venta prevented Martins adding to his tally on a Zanetti cross soon after.

Ivan Cordoba charged down a Jose Mari effort, but Villarreal went very close to an equaliser when Riquelme'sfree kick rattled the crossbar with Toldo beaten.

Riquelme also threatened soon after with a right-foot strike from the edge of the box that shaved the target.

Substitute Marco Materazzi made an immediate impact, holding up a corner kick for Adriano and his shot took a deflection off Venta, giving goalkeeper Viera time to recover his position.

Veron's free kick was over the bar and the goalkeeper smothered an Esteban Cambiasso effort, but he was forced to work a bit harder on Martins' header from an Adriano cross.

Villarreal kept themselves in the game and Inter were fortunate that ex-Lazio man Sorin couldn't make the most of his chance under pressure from Cordoba.

Another Adriano free kick was dealt with comfortably and this 2-1 lead does not give Inter much of a comfort zone to take into the second leg in Spain.


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Inter: Toldo; J Zanetti, Cordoba, Samuel, Wome; Stankovic (Kily Gonzalez 81), Veron, Cambiasso, Cesar (Materazzi 69); Adriano, Recoba (Martins 27)

Villarreal: Viera; Javi Venta, Gonzalo, Pena, Sorin; Riquelme, Arzo (Quique Alvarez 60), Senna, Calleja (Santi Cazorla 87); Jose Mari (Franco 77), Forlan

Ref: Sars (Fra)

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Roberto Mancini is concerned that Inter could be made to pay for their mistakes against Villarreal and had stern words of advice for Obafemi Martins.

“I am satisfied with the result, considering how it started with a distraction after less than a minute. These things can snowball, but the lads did well to react and play good football,” said the Coach after the 2-1 Champions League quarter-final win.


Diego Forlan had taken advantage of a Pierre Wome error to open the scoring after 45 seconds, but the Nerazzurri turned it around through Adriano and Martins.


“We knew Villarreal were solid and defend well, while they can be very dangerous at the front. Wome should’ve closed down Jose Mari earlier, but it was also a good pass from Juan Roman Riquelme.”


Alvaro Recoba was forced to limp off after 25 minutes with a bruised leg from a very high Juan Manuel Pena challenge.


“Recoba had a good start and was troubling Villarreal by coming deep, but he got that knock early on and it was too painful for him to continue,” explained Mancini.


“I was impressed by our overall performance, especially as it wasn’t easy to get back on track quickly. It would’ve been nicer to score a third goal, but it’s good to go into the second leg with an advantage.”


The Nerazzurri were missing Luis Figo due to a calf strain, forcing a switch of position for Dejan Stankovic.


“Figo is a world class player of great experience, so clearly his absence is felt, especially for the final ball in. We hope he can recover to play a little bit on Saturday and start in Spain, but in any case Stankovic did well out wide on the right.”


However, Mancini had hard words for goalscorer Martins, who netted a fantastic backheel strike, but could’ve done even better.


“Martins can’t understand how good he can be if he starts at the right moment and runs past his marker. He has to learn that if he ran at people rather than going towards the ball, he would be unstoppable. He shouldn’t have his back to the goal, as he needs to run into space and isn’t doing that enough.”


Martins explained his view of this on-going situation and the result of Mancini’s constant criticism.


“I am very happy that the Coach gives me so much advice, even when I’m on the pitch. This means he is helping me to improve and I hope to keep learning, although sometimes that can get annoying! I tried to go into space, but when I saw Adriano I had to try to find room elsewhere. We need to keep practising the movement he asked of us.”


Captain Javier Zanetti warned that this victory is too slender a lead to relax into the Champions League quarter-final.


“We were taken by surprise and these things can happen in football, but we got back into it and must work hard for the second leg, as it’s going to be very tough.”