INTER MILAN 0 -
1 LIVERPOOLTuesday 11 March 2008 19:45 , Champions League Last 16 (2)
TORRES FIRES REDS TO SAN SIRO GLORY
Liverpool have gone some way to laying to rest the ghost of 1965 after Fernando Torres' virtuoso strike secured a magnificent 1-0 win over Inter Milan at the San Siro.
The Reds went into the match protecting a 2-0 lead and despite having to endure long periods of Inter pressure they did not succumb to the same fate that accounted for Shankly's men all those years ago, and will now progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League courtesy of a 3-0 victory on aggregate.
It was El Nino's 26th strike of the season and a priceless away goal that ultimately killed off the Nerazzuri's hopes of producing their own Istanbul-style comeback.
It had been a nervy start for Rafael Benitez's men who were greeted by a hostile atmosphere at the kick-off and struggled to impose themselves on the game in the early exchanges.
But with the Travelling Kop determined to make themselves heard, they weathered an early storm before going on to create one or two opportunities of their own.
However, the opening 10 minutes of the clash belonged to Inter and the first chance of the match arrived on five minutes when Zlatan Ibrahimovic crossed from the left for Esteban Cambiasso, but the Argentinean's near post effort was well blocked by Lucas Leiva.
It gave Inter the impetus and two minutes later Pepe Reina had to get down brilliantly to tip Julio Cruz's strike from 25-yards just past his right-hand post.
Ahead of the match Rafael Benitez denied that his side would arrive in Milan hoping to see through a rearguard action but as the first half wore on they were forced to defend deeper than they would have hoped, as the Italians poured forward in an attempt to reduce the arrears.
In fact the only sight of goal the visitors had in the opening 20 minutes was when Dirk Kuyt's low ball in from the right found Fernando Torres, but the Spaniard was unable to get a clear shot away and saw his effort deflect to safety.
It seemed to spark the away side into life and they began to enjoy more possession and created one or two notable half chances on the counter attack, with Ryan Babel guilty of some poor control after being sent clear by Fabio Aurelio's raking through ball.
Torres was the next to hold his head in his hands, when he showed the sort of pace that has made him a revelation this season, by taking advantage of a slip from Cambiasso to skip beyond Rivas Lopezin the penalty area, but his effort form an acute angle well blocked by the legs of Julio Cesar.
The game was beginning to open up and on the half hour mark Ibrahimovic slid a delightful ball through to Cruz, who could only watch on in agony as he saw his low drive fly just wide of Reina's far post, after Fabio Aurelio had played him onside.
It was the best chance of the first period and one the hosts would eventually rue.
Both sides then manufactured good openings to secure an interval lead but Dirk Kuyt failed to take advantage after being released on the right side of the penalty area before Reina reacted well to deny Ibrahimovic at his near post, after the Swede had met Maicon's cut back with an audacious flick.
The Nerazzuri were always likely to lay caution to the wind after the break and Patrick Vieria was left to feel the wrath of the San Siro faithful on 49 minutes when his hesitation allowed Liverpool to block his attempted shot after a neat interchange between Zanetti and Ibrahimovic.
However, the expected onslaught did not materialise and the tide turned in favour of Liverpool on 51 minutes when Nicolas Burdisso was sent off for a second bookable offence, following a late tackle on Lucas.
With a one man advantage the Reds began to enjoy more of the play but they had to endure one last scare when a mistake by Martin Skrtel gave Ibrahimovic a clear run at goal.
The San Siro's sweetheart has so often been the hero for Inter this season but he turned to villain just shy of the hour mark when he contrived to drill his low strike just wide of Reina's far post.
Once again it was a let-off that seemed to inspire Liverpool into action and after Gerrard's free-kick was brilliantly tipped over by Cesar the visitors fired the killer blow.
Aurelio's low ball into the edge of the box found Torres in space, who turned Chivu brilliantly before lashing a vicious drive into the bottom right-hand corner of Cesar's goal on 64 minutes.
It was a goal worthy of winning any match and one that capped a magnificent display by the Reds who saw out the remainder of the game without incident, to keep our hopes of a sixth European Cup very much alive.
