Post by Taxigirl on Dec 11, 2003 9:31:56 GMT
Adani 68 (I), Rincon 84 (D)
Kiev
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Inter conceded a last gasp goal to throw away their spot in the Champions' League and instead enter the UEFA Cup.
Daniele Adani's header had given the Nerazzurri that crucial lead in Kiev, but Diogo Rincon was left unmarked for the equaliser.
Inter needed a victory in Kiev to qualify for the next phase of the Champions' League. This side had started very well with two opening victories - including a 2-1 win over Dynamo Kiev at the San Siro - but since Hector Cuper's sacking they have gathered just one point from three games.
The Nerazzurri had to get back on track following their 5-1 setback to Arsenal, their worst ever home defeat in European competition.
Alberto Zaccheroni maintained his trident attack with Andy van der Meyde, Christian Vieri and Julio Cruz. Cristiano Zanetti, Marco Materazzi, Francesco Coco and Thomas Helveg were out injured. Ivan Cordoba was able to start with the aid of heavy strapping despite a slight sprain to the knee.
Zac's men had a strong start and put the home side under real pressure, as Vieri was halted for offside and Sablic performed a crucial tackle as he prepared to pounce on van der Meyde's cross.
However, Kiev went closest on 16 minutes when Diogo Rincon was left completely unmarked on the six yard box to drill wide of the target.
Inter wasted a good counter-attack when van der Meyde preferred to backheel into Giovanni Pasquale's path and the defence was able to recover.
Kiev pushed back and a Shatskikh effort was charged down by defensive bodies in the box.
Moments later a dreadful Francesco Toldo clearance fell straight to an opponent, but Diogo Rincon was unable to take full advantage.
It was a very open game and at the other end Pasquale dribbled past several players only to be blocked at the byline. From that resulting corner Daniele Adani's splendid volley was parried with some difficulty by Shovkovsky.
Dynamo had another great chance with Rincon again left utterly unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box, but his free header on a corner kick bounced over after he hit it into the ground.
60 seconds later captain Javier Zanetti nearly scored a wonderful opener, but his angled drive shaved the far post by a matter of inches.
Then Shatskikh couldn't quite control a good Dmytrulin cross into the centre as Cordoba was able to recover.
At the other end of the field, Vieri's left-foot volley was too weak to trouble Shovkovsky following some excellent build-up play by Zanetti, while Julio Cruz turned a fierce effort over the bar.
Zac introduced the pacey Obafemi Martins in place of van der Meyde just two minutes into the second period.
Inter had the first shot on target of the second half when the goalkeeper comfortably held a Cruz free kick.
Rincon continued to waste good scoring opportunities for the Ukrainians and blasted wide from a tricky angle rather than cutting back to his teammates.
The Nerazzurri thought they had broken the deadlock on 68 minutes when Cruz flicked the ball over the goalkeeper, but it was just off target and Martins couldn't redirect it into an empty net.
Kiev went even closer moments later, as more dreadful defending on a set-piece gave Leko a clean shot, but Mathias Almeyda's goalline clearance proved decisive with Toldo beaten.
The second half was packed with incident as Martins' shot was deflected into the path of Adani and Shovskovsky rushed off his line for a stunning reaction save.
The goal finally arrived with 22 minutes to go as Emre floated a free kick into the centre for the head of Daniele Adani. The defender, who was playing due to Materazzi's injury, had also scored against Kiev in the San Siro match and created several chances throughout the evening.
Martins had the opportunity to make it 2-0 on 74 minutes when he dribbled past the goalkeeper, but in attempting to cut back allowed a desperate last ditch tackle to take the ball off him as the goal lay gaping.
It was end to end stuff as Inter used the counter-attack and Vieri fired over the bar from just inside the box.
Young Nigerian Martins wasted another good chance when he went for glory instead of passing to the unmarked Cruz.
Dynamo Kiev refused to give in and Toldo palmed out a screamer from Leko, then on the resulting corner kick Peev's long-range effort whistled wide of the near post.
It paid off as a corner kick took several deflections before coming to Rincon and this time the South American was able to take full advantage and tap in from six yards.
With Lokomotiv Moscow's defeat at Highbury on the same evening, Dynamo knew a win would put them through to the second phase of the Champions' League.
Moments later Rincon nodded wide as the pressure increased all over the field, while Nesmachnyi ballooned over the bar from close range and Cernat turned wide from just inside the box.
Inter introduced Alvaro Recoba for the final push and within a minute of coming on the Uruguayan saw a curling effort kicked off the line by the goalkeeper.
Recoba and Vieri then saw other efforts parried as both teams were charging backwards and forwards for the winning goal, but it was not to come for either side.
Arsenal and Lokomotiv Moscow go through to the second phase of the Champions' League, Inter are relegated to the UEFA Cup and Dynamo Kiev are out of Europe.
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Dynamo Kiev: Shovkovsky; Dmytrulin (Cernat 77), Gavrancic, Sablic, Nesmacnhy; Peev (Milevskiyy 84), Ghioane (Husyev 73), Leko, Belkevich, Rincon; Shatskikh
Inter: Toldo; Cordoba, Adani, Cannavaro; J Zanetti, Almeyda, Emre (Recoba 88), Pasquale; van der Meyde (Martins 48), Vieri, Cruz (Lamouchi 82)
Ref: Veissiere (Fra)