Manchester United completed a 2:0 victory over Inter Milan in their return leg of the Champions League 1/8 finals. The two goals, by Nemanja Vidic (pictured below) and Cristiano Ronaldo, headed in in classical English style, allowed United to advance into the 1/4 finals.
Nemanja Vidic headed the first in just 4 minutes into the game from a corner kick that left the Inter defense powerless, while the Serb giant opened the score.
The goal shook the Nerazurri to the core, and they were unable to create anything of substance for quite a while. Inter Milan showed their teeth only at the 30th, when Swedish international Slatan Ibrahimovic’s header found the crossbar after a cross from the edge of the goal area. Then came a chance for Dejan Stankovich, whose shot was deflected with the fingertips by United’s Edwin van Der Sar. Ibrahimovic narrowly missed the spot a few minutes later.
Inter Milan’s leaders after the encounter all lost rating points: Stankovich lost 21.79 points; and Ibrahimovich, 20.58 points. He has exited the Top-23 List of best football players. He now has just 162.79 points. Stankovich has a rating of 75.03 points.
The second half was pretty much a repeat of the first, and Cristiano Ronaldo headed in a skillful cross by Wayne Rooney that took the entire Inter defense by surprise. Inter defenders were all concentrating on Dmitar Berbatov, who was in classical outside position, allowing Ronaldo to sneak in and score.
Inter Milan attempted to come back after the two goals. Brazilian Adriano and Swede Ibrahimovic came close but never quite made it, allowing manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s team to walk away with the victory. The “Special one” Jose Mourinho has now exited the competition.
© FTBL