22 February 2007, by Sean Gillen

Valencia grab draw in four-goal thriller

Inter 2-2 Valencia

Valencia twice came from behind to leave the San Siro with a draw and two away goals from their Champions League last sixteen tie with Italian champions Inter.

Both sides included a Portuguese international in their starting line-up, with legendary winger Luis Figo playing on the flanks for Inter and Miguel continuing at right-back for Los Ches. Hugo Viana also made a late appearance from the bench for the Spanish, playing the final thirteen minutes.

After a slow start, Inter began to create chances as the first half went on. Hernan Crespo was narrowly off-target for Inter, before having a goal-bound effort cleared off the line by Raul Albiol following a mistake by Valencia goalkeeper Santiago Canizares.

Ibrahimovic headed against the post for the Nerazurri, while Silva and Villa threatened for Valencia, before the home side took the lead through Argentine midfielder Cambiasso, and Figo played a part in the goal.

The veteran winger delivered a free-kick into the area for Ibrahimovic to draw a save from Canizares, but Cambiasso headed in the rebound from close range. Replays suggested that the visitors were unlucky not have had the goal disallowed, as Cambiasso appeared to be offside.

Portuguese tussle

Miguel and Figo came up against each other on several occasions during the evening, and the defender produced an excellent piece of defending to deny Figo a shooting opportunity early in the second half.

David Villa had already missed a good chance to draw Valencia level before half time, but the striker made amends went he equalised with a tremendous free-kick. The Spanish international curled the ball inside Julio Cesar’s post from over twenty-five metres to draw his side level.

However, Inter went back in front ten minutes later through rampaging Brazilian right-back Maicon. The summer signing from Monaco latched onto a clever Julio Cruz pass to slide the ball past Canizares with less than fifteen minutes to go.

With Inter heading for the win, Silva changed the outlook of the tie with an 87th minute equaliser. Viana had already worried Cesar with a shot before a corner was cleared to Silva on the edge of the area, and the winger connected with a sweet strike into the bottom corner.

Luis Figo (Inter winger)

“The team played a good game, we had many chances in the first half without scoring a goal. We are convinced that we can obtain a good result in Valencia and qualify for the next round.”

“We shall see in the next match, we are confident in our qualities and the possibility of obtaining a result which allows us to go through.”

Quique Sanchez Flores (Valencia manager)

”I have told my players tonight to enjoy the result. The objective was to stay alive in the competition, and we have done that. However, nothing is resolved yet.”

“The team battled it out, even though the first goal was very harsh, because it looked offside. We did not surrender and accept defeat. We got even better in the second half because the forwards played a better part.”

Inter:
Julio Cesar, Maicon, Burdisso, Cordoba, Materazzi, Zanetti, Cambiasso (Dacourt, 31), Stankovic, Figo (Solari, 89), Crespo (Cruz, 68), Ibrahimovic
Yellow Cards: Burdisso (86), Zanetti (90)

Valencia:
Canizares, Miguel, Moretti, Ayala, Marchena, Albiol, Albedla, Silva (Lopez, 92), Angulo (Joaquin, 83), Morientes (Viana, 77), Villa
Yellow Cards: Albelda (28), Marchena (41)

Goals:
[1-0] Cambiasso, 29
[1-1] Villa, 64
[2-1] Maicon, 76
[2-2] Silva, 87