23 November 2006, by Tom Kundert

Crespo strike accounts for injury-hit Sporting

Inter Milan 1-0 Sporting

Inter Milan proved too strong for Sporting at the San Siro last night. A first-half Hernan Crespo goal was enough to give the Italians victory and send the Lisbon team out of the Champions League.

An already weakened Sporting line-up was further hampered by injuries to Caneira and Abel in the first half hour, forcing the two defenders off. Despite a brave effort by Paulo Bento’s young team, Inter looked the stronger side throughout and deserved the win.

The home fans were celebrating in the very first minute when Crespo fired past Ricardo into the net from close range, but the goal was disallowed for offside.

After recovering from the fright, Sporting began to pass the ball around confidently in a bright opening where both sides adopted an attacking attitude. Without the suspended Liedson and injured Djalo, it was Nani who took on the responsibility of building Sporting’s forward movements.

The young star troubled the Italians with some excellent touches and good bursts of speed, but at the other end Crespo’s darting runs were proving a constant menace for the Sporting rearguard.

Sporting came close to breaking the deadlock on 35 minutes when Tonel got on the end of a Joao Moutinho cross and headed firmly but just the wrong side of the post.

Clinical Crespo

One minute later the home team took the lead when a defensive lapse left Crespo completely unmarked as he latched on to a superb Stankovic ball over the defence, and the Argentine hammered the ball past Ricardo.

Sporting responded through an excellent Tello shot from outside the box that Materazzi managed to deflect over the bar.

The second half proved a frustrating affair for Sporting as Inter showed why Italian teams are masters at defending a lead. Their physically strong and technically gifted midfield and watertight defence rarely gave the Lions a sniff of goal.

Nevertheless, Sporting almost grabbed an unlikely equaliser five minutes from time when Alecsandro met a Tello corner with a powerful header but the ball flew just wide.

In the closing minutes, as Sporting threw more men forward in search of the equaliser, Inter created several opportunities to kill the game, but Ricardo showed why he is one of the world’s greatest shot stoppers producing excellent saves from powerful strikes from Crespo and Ibrahimovic.

Sporting now host Spartak Moscow in their final group match, requiring a draw to guarantee their UEFA Cup place.

Paulo Bento, Sporting coach:

“We did not start the game well. We waited until we suffered and reacted after. We permitted Inter to control the ball in our half of the field and even close to our box although they didn’t manage to construct dangerous opportunities.”

“We suffered a goal we could have avoided. Knowing that Inter are a mature team, at 1-0 it was difficult to overcome. We have to congratulate Inter because they controlled the game better, especially after the goal.”

Nani, Sporting forward:

“We knew that it would be a difficult game and it was exactly that. Inter started the game well and looked to end it. Our team did not manage to impose our football.”

Roberto Mancini, Inter coach:

“Looking back at the way we started this competition, we qualified with one game remaining in the group phase, which is great. After the first two losses, where we always ended with 10 players, we managed to overcome the situation.”

“Sporting showed that they are in good form. It was not a categorical victory; we did not manage to take advantage of all the opportunities. The fought well, but practically did not have opportunities.”

PortuGOAL man of the match: Ricardo
The Portugal number one was blameless for the goal and made several stunning saves to keep Sporting in the match.

Inter Milan:
Julio Cesar; Maicon, Cordoba, Materazzi, Grosso (Cambiasso, 82), Stankovic, Dacourt (Burdisso, 91), Vieira, Zanetti, Crespo, Ibrahimovic
Yellow Cards: Maicon (19)

Sporting:
Ricardo, Caneira (Abel, 15, Miguel Veloso, 27), Tonel, Polga, Rodrigo Tello, Custodio, Paredes, Joao Moutinho, Farnerud (Carlos Martins, 57), Nani, Alecsandro
Yellow Cards: Paredes (25), Nani (56), Custodio (81)

Goals:
[1-0] Crespo, 36