გილოცავთ
კრუზი
Spartak Moscow 0-1 Inter
Cruz 1 (I)
Luzhniki Stadium
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Julio Cruz stunned Spartak in the first minute yet again as Inter snatched a 1-0 victory in Moscow, even if they were saved by the woodwork.
The Nerazzurri revived their Champions League hopes with a 2-1 win over Spartak and needed to maintain that momentum after two opening defeats. With Alvaro Recoba injured and Adriano in Brazil for a period of rest and recuperation, Cruz was chosen to partner Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Swede returned from suspension, as did Fabio Grosso, whose two-match ban was halved on appeal. Yet the former Palermo full-back was dropped anyway in favour of Nicolas Andre Burdisso.
Cruz had netted in the opening minute when these two teams met at San Siro a fortnight ago and repeated the trick in Moscow. After not even 60 seconds, Ibrahimovic intercepted a wayward pass in midfield that Martin Stranzl swung at wildly, ran into the area and cut back for the Jardinero to sidefoot powerfully into the net.
Julio Cesar did well to smother Denis Bojarintsev's effort after a fine through ball from Yegor Titov. Vladimir Bystrov then curled wide with his left foot and a screamer from ex-Reggina midfielder Mozart stung Julio Cesar's palms.
Spartak were pouring forward and Inter sat back, as Bojarintsev also drilled from distance, but the Nerazzurri threatened on the counter-attack with Maicon and Ibrahimovic combining to be denied by some desperate defending.
Cruz and Dejan Stankovic exchanged passes rapidly until the ex-Bologna man placed an angled drive past the far post.
A Bojarintsev cross-shot nearly snuck in, while Cruz's cross-field pass was volleyed over by Luis Figo. Ibrahimovic's delightful flick almost found Maicon clear inside the area, but it was intercepted.
The Russians needed something more upfront and threw on Argentine Fernando Cavenaghi, but in the opening 30 seconds of the second half Inter almost scored again with Cruz closed down as he ran on to Ibrahimovic's assist.
Ibrahimovic has been criticised for his finishing skills and he wasted a golden opportunity to make it 2-0 moments later. Figo's cross from the right was on to Ibra's free head from six yards, yet he somehow managed to nod it well wide of an open goal.
Ibra was better as a provider, dummying a turn but instead flicking on for Maicon, whose low strike was beaten away by Kowalewski's feet.
Roberto Mancini's men perhaps left Spartak too much of the initiative in the second half and Bojarintsev's splendid cross-shot whistled inches past the far post with Titov flying in to get a touch.
Marco Materazzi charged down substitute Cavenaghi's shot, but on 70 minutes Figo skipped past his marker on the counter-attack and threaded through for Ibrahimovic's angled drive, again kept out by Kowalewski's legs.
Grosso replaced Figo to strengthen the side, though Julio Cesar had to make a crucial save on Roman Pavluychenko. The Spartak striker controlled with his chest and spun round for a powerful volley.
Spartak thought they'd equalised in spectacular circumstances on 78 minutes. Shishkin unleashed a simply stunning strike from all of 35 to 40 metres that cannoned off the underside of the bar. Fortunately for Julio Cesar and Inter, it bounced back out again and the goalkeeper was able to grab the loose ball before Cavenaghi could pounce.
It was turning into a siege and a touched-on corner for Titov was crossed in for Radoslav Kovac to nod just past the target with Julio Cesar late to the ball.
Substitute Santiago Solari's long-range effort was well smothered by Kowalewski in stoppages and the Polish goalkeeper again ran out to close down counter-attacks from Ibrahimovic and Stankovic.
Spartak were unable to get back into the game and this 1-0 result practically rules them out of the competition with just one point from four games. The Nerazzurri have now won two on the trot and can once again believe in their passage to the knockout stage.
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Spartak Moscow: Kowalewski; Shishkin, Stranzl, Jiranek, Rodriguez (Cavenaghi 46); Bystrov (Covalciuc 54), Kovac, Titov, Mozart, Bojarintsev; Pavlyuchenko
Inter: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Cordoba, Materazzi, Burdisso; Stankovic, Dacourt, Zanetti; Figo (Grosso 72); Ibrahimovic, Cruz (Solari 83)
Ref: Bo Larsson (Den)
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