Inter scrape past Valencia into semis on away goals
early strike from in-form Christian Vieri was just enough to help Inter Milan scrape into the Champions League semi-finals on away goals despite a 2-1 defeat to Valencia at the Mestalla on Tuesday.
An early strike from in-form Christian Vieri was just enough to help Inter Milan scrape into the Champions League semi-finals on away goals despite a 2-1 defeat to Valencia at the Mestalla on Tuesday.
The Italian side had Francesco Toldo to thank for an inspired goalkeeping display that enabled his side to weather a storm of Valencia attacks and put them into the last four for the first time in over 20 years.
Inter, 1-0 ahead from the first leg of the quarter-final, took an early lead in Spain when Vieri pounced on the ball after a rare defensive error by Argentine centre back Roberto Ayala and poked home at the second attempt on four minutes.
Valencia roared back into the game three minutes later when Pablo Aimar side-stepped defender Ivan Cordoba before firing past Toldo into the far corner.
Toldo then produced a string of brilliant saves to deny Valencia another goal before the break, including three outstanding reflex stops in the 40th minute.
The Italian international could do nothing, though, to prevent midfielder Ruben Baraja from heading home five minutes into the second half to put Valencia 2-1 ahead.
Valencia poured forward for the rest of the game, but could not get the ball past Toldo into the net and it was the Italians who went on to earn a place in the semi-finals against the winners of Wednesday's tie between neighbours AC Milan and Ajax.