By JOHN BOSCHINI
Inter Milan left it late, but the reigning European Champion lives to fight another day after a dramatic 3-2 victory against Bayern Munich that puts the Italian side in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.
Goran Pandev scored in the 88th minute to cap a furious comeback from Inter Milan after Bayern Munich had opened up a 3-1 aggregate lead by halftime. The Germans carried a 1-0 lead into the return leg in Munich but Samuel Eto'o put Inter Milan back on level terms in just the third minute. Pandev slipped a through-pass into Eto'o who beat an on-rushing Thomas Kraft from the edge of the box.
Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar cost Inter Milan when he fumbled an Arjen Robben shot in the 21st minute. Mario Gomez collected the rebound and, with his back to goal, expertly flicked the ball over the keeper's head to put Munich back on top. Thomas Mueller doubled Munich's aggregate lead 10 minutes later with Robben again providing the assist. Robben's pass was deflected, but Mueller found himself open in front of goal and a right-footed flick gave a stranded Cesar no chance.
The scoreline remained intact until the 63rd minute, when Wesley Sneijder powered home a low strike from outside the penalty area. Kraft got his fingertips to the shot but couldn't keep it out. Inter Milan pressed forward and finally got its winner through Pandev with just moments remaining in regulation to stun Munich.
Here are highlights from the match:
Manchester United had to endure some nervy moments but managed to hold on to beat Marseille, 2-1, and advance to the quarterfinals.
The two teams battled to a scoreless draw in France in their first leg, but it took less than five minutes to open the scoring at Old Trafford. Wayne Rooney took a pass from Ryan Giggs and turned to find Javier Hernandez for a tap-in by the far post. Marseille squandered a few golden chances before halftime, most notably Loic Remy putting a free header just wide of the post.
Hernandez's second goal of the night, courtesy of a Giggs assist, proved to be the game-winner. An own-goal from Wes Brown in the 82nd minute gave the French side some hope, but United's defense never really threatened to concede a second goal.
Manchester United advanced to the quarterfinals for the fifth year in a row.
Here are highlights from United's victory:
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What did you think of today's games? Do you think Inter can beat the odds and repeat as champion? Disappointed to see Bayern go out so early? Impressed with Manchester United's performance?
Share your thoughts below.
You two senoritas need a room, hermano?
Claro que es correcto. Lee el mensaje bien. Santo cielos… eres ridÃculo.Te estás enredando el cordón solito, hermano.
De que se puede decir porsupuesto que si, como la mitad de las tonterias que dice todo el mundo todos los dias, de que es correcto decirlo porsupuesto que no! No te preocupes por mi cultura “hermano” preocupate por la tuya!
Claro que se puede decir. Es obvio que tu primer idioma no es español. Que triste … No tienes cultura, hermano.
Another troll! Where did I imply that Mexico is better than the US???
Por cierto ‘mejorar tu urbanidad’ es una frase incorrecta como tambien lo es el decir mejorar tu espanol! Si te refieres al castellano, entonces creo que te queda bien claro quien debe regresar a la escuela no?
To finish off, hush remains an arrogant poster, and Nelson remains an imbecil!!!
Including an honorable mention for Luis Antonio Valencia who made his first appearance in months, making it all the way back from a horrible leg break. He looked decent, hopefully he can recover fully by start of next season.
Ummm if Chicharito gets transferred he’d get transferred for something like 45mm euros. This is what Real was considering paying for him and Man U said they wouldn’t even listen to anything under $40mm.
If you are saying taht those guys above would transfer for anything near that, you are out of your mind.
Manuel, you are going to get slammed every time you imply-in an arrogant manner- that México is better than the U.S. Por la manera en que escribes, parece que eres una de esas personas sin urbanidad y/o tacto social. Además, necesitas mejorar tu español.
Altidore is playing right midfield for 2nd level league while Chicharo is doing well with MU
Chicharo 3x > Altidore
Are you salvadorian? Or a dental American.
Cool story bra
Truth is Hernandez has great “rhythm” and times his runs perfectly. I can’t wait (if both teams make it) to see Dempsey square off against him in the Gold Cup final. Both players have had a beautiful season in England and both US and Mexico look very exciting.
From an English fan.
Nelson eres un imbecil! Mi familia a hecho mas por Mexico que la tuya jamas va a hacer por Estados Unidos. Todo lo que tengo y tengo muchisimo mas que tu, me lo han dado Los Estados Unidos Mexicanos. Metete abajo de la piedra de donde saliste baboso! Por cierto solo un borracho o un analfabeta escribe un “post” tan malo”, ademas quien te hablo a ti? Te la lavas huey!
Give it up!!!!!!!!!!!!!Your Mexican national team sucks. What do you mean by “we?” You are probably one of those Mexican Americans, like those born in East L.A., who think they are Mexican. I have news for you. In Mexico you are 100% gringo and will never be a Mexican to the Mexicans if born in the U.S. The sad thing is that you do not even support the country that has given you everything. In Mexico you would probably be picking vegetables 3:00A.M. to 9:00 P.M. I doubt that you would be one of the 10 riches Mexicans in the world. If you are Mexican, you can here when you were very young and are considered nothing more than a “Pocho,” dude. What has Mexico done for you lately? That’s what I thought.
“Chicharito best player from North America.”
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Give it up
‘I feel like any MNT player kinda breaks down against us’…How cute! The same way the MNT broke down against you at Azteca when we came back from a 0-1 deficit to beat you una ves mas, pre-“Chicharito’ days? And wasn’t that USMT supposed to be the mighty US team that was going to make all Mexicans wish they hadn’t been born after we wiped the floor in the Gold Cup with what according to you was your C–+++-+=%$@???? team! Anytime you are smug you’ll get a smug response!
I mention those two games because those were the last two games between both teams. or in other words dos a cero!
Chicharo is having a good career so far. He is always at the right spot at the right time, I think that is his best trait. I don’t expect him to do much against us though,… I feel like any MNT player kinda breaks down against us. And for the person who said Chicharo is the best player in concacaf, yeeeaah no..lol I will put Howard,Dempsey,Jones,Holden,Friedel, Dolo, with the exclusion of Holden, these guys have done it a lot longer than Charo has, and very WELL may I add. 😉 Holden means more to Bolton than Chicharo to Man-U. Oh no he didn’t!… bring it haters!
Chicharito has scored against Spain,France,Holland,Bolivia,Argentina,Venezuela, and New Zeland all with Mexico and he has scored a total of 12 goals in 21 games with Mexico. This guy can score with every team he he plays.
So Japan has a player (Yuto Nagatomo) in the UCL quarterfinals with Inter, very interesting.
Thanks Ives for the highlights. I recently pulled the plug on cable and this is the only place where I now can rely on showing the highlights from the games.
they were tap-ins but he moves well without the ball and gets where he as to be. Like I said before USA needs to contain him, he is not a 1-on-1 of a player, someone needs to serve him, and if they do, he won’t miss.
he certainly won’t have the same service as from united’s midfield
David Yelldell is supposedly being called up for the friendlies.
http://www.derwesten.de/sport/lokalsport/duisburg/US-Boys-holen-MSV-Torwart-Yelldell-id4420152.html
Chicharito best player from North America. Go Concacaf!
coaches
No need for a curse; the Mexican side as a collective unit sucks. They probably will have replaced 3 to 4 coached by 2012 as well.
Naw, they’re just just tap-ins, nothing more nothing less. The reason his goals are refereed to as tap-ins is because they’re not spectacular. I’m assuming from now on SBI will refer to headers as tap-ins as well.
(SBI-Get a grip.)
Hopefully when Chicharito is with the Mexican national team their curse rubs off on him, and he will do poorly against the US. Doce a Zero!
Inter plays beautiful football. There players are fast and strong. I remember when inter beat 3-1 Barcelona. how they handle them with no problem. Javier hernandez that guy hás a killer instict for goals made look too easy.
yep, any striker will tell you, being in the right place at the right time is most of the battle. kid’s got great instincts and a nose for the goal. his positioning is instinctual and uncanny, and his movement is superb
what a match that was. i was watching both at the same time, and it was an amazing day for footy. i like most had written milan off, but what a comeback.
also, that chicharito is just a goal-scorer by nature, no doubt about it. we are going to have some trouble with him with the national team for years to come, hopefully we can find an answer for him soon
+10
they were more than tap-ins…. its called instinct and knowing how to get away from your defender. He just makes it look easy……