1 November 2006, by Sean Gillen

Inter complete Russian double to set up Sporting showdown

Spartak Moscow 0-1 Inter Milan

Inter Milan moved into second place in Champions League Group B with a well deserved 1-0 win over Spartak Moscow in Russia. Julio Cruz scored after one minute to round off a great week for the Nerazurri, after last weekend’s win over city rivals Milan in Serie A.

Argentine striker Cruz, who scored twice inside ten minutes in the reverse fixture at the San Siro, got the winner during Inter’s first attack. Spartak’s Martin Stranzl misjudged the bounce of a ball, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic robbed the defender and slid the ball across goal for Cruz score for the visitors.

The game was an even affair, and Spartak had chances throughout the match. Denis Boyarintsev was denied by Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar and Mozart stung the Brazilians hands with a thumping 25-metre shot.

Inter began to adopt a counter attacking approach, and an excellently worked move involving Dejan Stankovic resulted in Cruz shooting narrowly wide with his left foot.

In the second half, Portuguese Luis Figo, who was back in the starting lineup after missing the weekend win over Milan, provided a golden opportunity for Ibrahimovc. The veteran winger picked up the ball out on his favoured right wing, and delivered a perfect cross for the unmarked Swede, but Ibrahimovic somehow headed off target from five metres.

Brazilian Maicon then exchanged passes with Ibrahimovic before shooting straight at Spartak goalkeeper Voizech Kovalewski, and Igor Titov was inches way from connecting with a Boyarintsev cross to level for the Russians.

Figo then played in Ibrahimovic once again, only for the striker to be denied by Kovalewski, and Spartak’s Roman Shishkin hit a thunderous long range shot that cracked off the bar.

Kovac headed a Titov ball over and Stankovic and Ibrahimovic both missed one-on-ones with the Spartak ‘keeper as the game ended with both sides creating chances.

Mancini satisfied

After the match, Inter boss Roberto Mancini was well aware of the significance of his side’s win, which now puts them ahead of Portuguese side Sporting in second place, behind qualified Bayern Munich.

“It was fundamental to play a good game this evening, and, most of all, manage to win because it was very important to get three points after a difficult start in the Champions League,” said Mancini.

“The victory came, and we were playing very well up to a certain point in the game. We suffered a bit in the last ten minutes, but I think it was the tiredness from the derby.”

“The players are good, but there has never been any doubt about this. But we are also a good group. You can play well or less well; it’s not always possible to be perfect, and Inter are always judged with different criteria.”

Inter take on Sporting on matchday five at the San Siro, and will qualify for the knockout phase if they can defeat the Portuguese giants, before travelling to Germany to play Bayern in the group’s final match.

Spartak Moscow:
Kowalewski; Shishkin, Stranzl, Jiranek, Rodriguez (Cavenaghi 46); Bystrov (Covalciuc 54), Kovac, Titov, Mozart, Bojarintsev; Pavlyuchenko
Yellow Cards: None

Inter:
Julio Cesar; Maicon, Cordoba, Materazzi, Burdisso; Stankovic, Dacourt, Zanetti; Figo (Grosso 72); Ibrahimovic, Cruz (Solari 83)
Yellow Cards: None

Goals:
[0-1] Cruz, 1