TRAZBON – Having qualified for the
knockout stage before kick-off thanks to Lille's win over CSKA
Moscow, Inter headed into the cauldron of the Huseyin Avni Aker
Stadium to get the point needed to finish as
winners of Group B. It was no easy feat but Inter succeeded and can now look forward to more Champions League football in February. All the action came in the first half:
Inter broke the deadlock thanks an Argentine move, Alvarez exchanging passes with Milito before netting his first goal in Nerazzurri
colours. Five minutes later the Turks drew level through Altintop
via a deflection off Samuel. There were no goals after the break,
though Mierzejweski went mightily close, his header coming off the
inside of Julio Cesar's post. Joy for the Nerazzurri then as they qualify
a game early: they can now can focus their energy on Serie A.
FIRST HALF – Inter took to the pitch safe in the
knowledge that they were already in the draw for the knockout stage
after Lille beat CSKA Moscow in an earlier kick-off. Claudio Ranieri
fielded Lucio alongside Samuel in central defencecentre back with Nagatomo and Chivu
as full-backs. Cambiasso took up the holding role in front of defence,
Alvarez was rewarded for his showing against Cagliari with a
right-wing berth while Zarate was on the opposite flank. Zanetti and
Stankovic completed the midfield with Milito leading the line up
front.
Trabzonspor started brightly as Celutska made an
early foray forward before firing wide, followed soon after by Burak. Meanwhile Alvarez and Zarate
looked to inspire Inter but initially came up short. Burak tried to lob a
volley beyond Julio Cesar on the quarter of an hour mark, but the
keeper was alert to it. The Nerazzurri went ahead on 18 minutes and
Ricky Alvarez was the scorer, following up his impressive performance
at the weekend with his first goal in Nerazzurri colours. He laid off
for Milito then collected the return pass and placed a left-footed
shot beyond Tonga for Inter's first goal in Turkey in 30 years.
Ranieri's team got lucky three minutes later as Burak slipped in between
the two centre-backs, Lucio missing his tackle, only to see his shot trickle
a fraction wide. However, just two minutes passed and the Turks
were level: Altintop found the back of the net with a long-range effort, Julio
Cesar wrong-footed as the ball ricocheted off Samuel's back.
The keeper was called into action in the 35th
minute first by Alanzinho and then by Burak, and moments later his
opposite number Tonga saved from Zarate at the other end. The
Nerazzurri upped the tempo and won a couple of corners - Samuel
and Alvarez both going close - but they were unable to restore their
lead and the first half ended 1-1 after three minutes of added time.
SECOND HALF – The match restarted with no
substitutions made and it wasn't long before Trabzonspor went for
goal: fortunately Zokora's shot was utterly forgettable. The Turkish
outfit had certainly come out fired up though, and Julio Cesar had
to make a good save from Burak's free kick as the home side began to
pile on the pressure. Stankovic volleyed goalwards in the 55th
minute, with Tolga scrambling to make the save, before Inter's
Brazilian keeper had to deal with a tricky shot from Alanzinho. On
60 minutes Cambiasso fed Zarate with a lovely ball: Tolga blocked the
forward's first effort then Glowaski positioned himself well between Zarate and
the goal as Maurito looked to volley into an open net. Three minutes
later Burak had another shot (weak), to which Inter responded on
the counter-attack when Zarate was played into space, Tolga denying him
once more. Ranieri brought Coutinho on for Zarate in the 69th
minute, despite the Argentine's positive performance. Soon afterwards
Inter breathed a sigh of relief as Alanzinho volleyed a venomous
drive just wide after Chivu headed clear. There was an even bigger
sigh in the 76th
minute when Celutska's cross was met by the head of substitute
Mierzejweski and his effort came back off the post. The Turks kept
looking for a way through but were given no joy by the Nerazzurri
rear guard and after two minutes of stoppage time Trabzonspor v Inter
ended 1-1. Inter sit on top of Group B with 10 points and, with a
four-point gap and one matchday remaining, confirm their place as group
winners.
Trabzonspor 1-1 Inter (HT: 1-1)
Scorers: Alvarez 18, Altintop 23.
Trabzonspor: 29 Tolga; 5 Cech, 6 Glowaski, 23 Giray, 28
Celustka; 25 Alanzinho (Paulo Henrique 84), 15 Zokora, 20 Colman,
30 Serkan (Mierzejewski 64); 17 Burak, 9 H. Altintop.
Unused subs: 1 Kivrak, 21 Atas, 22 Mustafa, 24 Aykut, 32 Brozek.
Coach: Senol Gunes.
Inter: 1 Julio Cesar; 55 Nagatomo, 6 Lucio, 25 Samuel,
26 Chivu; 19 Cambiasso, 11 Alvarez (Faraoni 88), 4 Zanetti, 5
Stankovic; 28 Zarate (Coutinho 69); 22 Milito (Pazzini 85).
Unused subs: 12 Castellazzi, 8 Thiago Motta, 20 Obi, 23 Ranocchia.
Coach: Claudio Ranieri.
Referee: Martin Atkinson (England).
Booked: Chivu 11, Glowaski 42, Serkan 56, Alvarez 84.
Added time: 3+2 minutes.
Attendance: 25,000.
starting lineups
| Tolga |
1 Julio Cesar |
| Cech |
55 Nagatomo |
| Glowaski |
6 Lucio |
| Giray |
25 Samuel |
| Celustka |
26 Chivu |
| Alanzinho |
19 Cambiasso |
| Zokora |
11 Alvarez |
| Colman |
4 Zanetti |
| Serkan |
5 Stankovic |
| Burak |
28 Zarate |
| Altintop |
22 Milito |
substitutes
| Kivrak |
12 Castellazzi |
| Mierzejewski |
7 Pazzini |
| Paulo Henrique |
8 Motta |
| Atas |
20 Obi |
| Mustafa |
23 Ranocchia |
| Aykut |
29 Coutinho |
| Brozek |
37 Faraoni |
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