Chelsea Loses To Inter Milan At San Siro

Chelsea last night lost by 1-2 to Inter Milan at the San Siro in the UEFA champions league group of 16. Though Chelsea had better ball possession and higher number of shots on target, Inter won the match because they were able to convert their chances.

The first goal of the match came barely three minutes into the first half when Milito connected a pass by Samuel Eto’o to put the host ahead. Thereafter it was attack and counter attack till the end of the first half. Chelsea lost two great opportunities in the first half; first was Didier Drogba’s terrific free kick that hit the upright bar and the second was the penalty which the centre referee overlooked when Salomon Kalou was brought down in the Inter’s 18 yard box in the 45th minute. First half ended 1-0 in favour of the home team.

The second half saw a more purposeful football on both sides as they kept threatening each other’s defense from time to time. Chelsea’s persistent attacks paid off in the 51st minute when Salomon Kalou powered home a pass from Ivanovic to even scores at 1-1. However, determined not to lose at home the host fought gallantly and got their winning goal in the 55th minute when Cambiasso blast in a grounder after a goal mouth scramble, leaving goal keeper Petr Cech puzzled. Chelsea mounted more pressure but all their efforts were thwarted by Inter’s water-tight defense line.

Goal Petr Cech got injured in the 59th minute after jumping to catch a non-threatening up ball that was actually not goal bound. He got replaced with Henrique Hilario who kept a clean slate for the rest of the match.

Chelsea once again had another opportunity to equalize but the opportunity was wasted by Frank Lampard who in the 65th minute gave Nicolas Anelka’s cross to Inter’s goal keeper as though it were a back pass. The blues gave a very good account of themselves anyway; they were able to get an away goal that could decide Inter’s fate in their return leg match in three weeks time.

Samuel Eto’o got replaced in the 67th minute while Salomon Kalou the scorer of Chelsea’s lone goal was replaced with Sturridge in the 78th minute. Sturridege’s inclusion did not do much to change the tempo of the game. The host eventually ran away with a 2-1 victory: Coach Jose Mourinho was obviously happy with the result having boasted before the match that he was going to beat Chelsea.