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Panathinaikos Stun Inter
It's a Pana stunner in Milan, where Henk Ten Cate’s Greek outfit have earned a shock 1-0 win in against the Serie A champions.
Nov 26, 2008 4:47:20 PM
Panathinaikos has turned Group B on its head with a stunning UEFA Champions League victory in Italy, where the unfancied Greeks scored a deserved 1-0 win over Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan.
The win even eclipses the Athenians’ shock away win over Werder Bremen last matchday, with their victory at the Sani Siro built on supreme defensive organization and a near-perfect tactical set-up laid out by Dutch manager Henk Ten Cate.
Despite their listless display, the Italians have still qualified for the next phase of the competition by virtue of Werder Bremen’s 2-2 draw in Cyprus, a result that has catapulted Panathinaikos over Anorthosis Famgusta and into second place, with one group match remaining.
First Half
An essentially unspectacular first-half of football saw Henk Ten Cate’s men profit from their own conservative tactical set-up, largely stifling an Inter Milan side who had only a few days ago dismantled Juventus.
The likes of Brazilian striker Adriano struggled to find regular service thanks to some superbly disciplined positional play by Pana in both midfield and defense, with Vaggelis Mantzios again admirably taking up a particularly isolated lone striker’s role.
Despite all of their defensive efforts however, the Greeks were powerless in the face of Adriano’s raw striking instincts on ten minutes, when the former Flamengo man rattled the left upright after a fairly cohesive passing move by the home side.
It was a reminder of the gulf in class between the two sides that was perhaps not so conspicuous, given the resolve of Ten Cate’s men and the inability for Mourinho’s team to break them down consistently.
In fact, with the Athenians growing in confidence with the ball at their feet – just as they had done during a stunning win in Germany last matchday – they fashioned their first real chance of the match on fifteen minutes.
Appropriate perhaps that it arrived from a set-piece, with the Greeks not looking capable of posing a concerted attacking threat in open play given their defensive predisposition.
A Karagounis free-kick dropped to former Arsenal man Gilberto Silva in the box, who saw his close-range effort blocked before fellow countryman Gabriel wasted a wonderful opportunity from the rebound.
It was a chance that marked Panathinaikos’ best spell of the match, keeping possession comfortably for a prolonged period.
That was before the elusive Ibrahimovic almost gave Inter the lead on 29 minutes, latching onto a lofted Cambiasso pass before lifting the ball over Panathinaikos ‘keeper Galinovic and onto the roof of the net.
The Swedish superstar showed a willingness to drop into space effectively that was lacking in his strike partner. Yet even the former Juventus striker was let down by poor finishing, as Inter ended the half with a discernible lack of pace and invention.
Second Half
After a first half during which the likes of veteran centerback Ioannis Goumas thrived, it was the visitors who applied their own piece of attacking pressure in a noticeably more open start to the second period.
Moments after Greece international Nikos Spyropoulos was forced into defensive duties on his own goal-line after Galinovic’s poor handling from a corner allowed Cambiasso a chance to finish, Mate Simao unleashed a powerful – but fruitless – long-range effort after a decent passing move by the visitors.
The match quickly resumed its previous pattern however, with the visitors looking comfortable in possession and Quaresma’s half-time introduction for weekend match-winner Muntari having failed to truly galvanize an Inter side perhaps content with the point that would see them through the group stages.
Stunningly, Gabriel corner, Goumas header, Sarriegi scores.
However, the Serie A giants were stunningly undone by a Gabriel corner on 69 minutes, a previously unthinkable goal given the lack of drive and direction in the general play of the Greeks.
However, Ten Cate’s men had already shown an adventure in their set-piece plays that was understandably lacking otherwise.
Inter had been handed a first-half warning about the threat posed by the Athenians from corners when Gabriel wasted a glorious first-half opportunity after some unconvincing Milanese defending and they were made to pay for their indecisiveness by Spanish centre-back Josu Sarriegi, pouncing on the rebound after Goumas’ header from a Gabriel corner was saved by Cesar.
It prompted an immediate reply from a stunned Inter, as the previously static Adriano forged a chance for himself, forcing a low save from Galinovic just moments after the goal.
With their thousands of travelling fans particularly voiciferous, the away side again recomposed themselves, with even the oft immobile Mantzios now offering himself to the physical rigors of what was shaping up to be a tense finish.
The introduction of striker Mario Balotelli added some much need spark to the home side, the teenager proving something of a nuisance to an otherwise extremely comfortable Panathinaikos back-line – despite the presence of four Inter strikers on the same pitch.
The effervescent Galinovic was then forced into one final late save from usual last-gasp hero Cruz as the Athenians maintained their discipline and held on for a famous victory at the San Siro, moving them into second-place in Group B, one point ahead of Anorthosis Famagusta.
Temuri Ketsbaia’s side blew a two-goal lead at home to Werder Bremen, where they drew 2-2 and they will now face the Greeks in their final group game in Athens on December 9.
Inter Milan 0
Panathinaikos 1 (Sarriegi 69’)
Line-ups:
Inter Milan: Cesar, Materazzi, Cordoba, Maxwell (75’ Cruz), Maico, Cambiasso, Muntari (46’ Quaresma), Figo (72’ Balotelli), Zanetti, Adriano, Ibrahimovic
Panathinaikos: Galinovic, Goumas, Sarriegi, Vyntra, Nilsson, Spyropoulos, Gilberto, Karagounis (63’ Salpiggidis), Simao, Gabriel (84’ Tziolis), Mantzios (94’ Rukavina)
--Chris Paraskevas, Goal.com
The win even eclipses the Athenians’ shock away win over Werder Bremen last matchday, with their victory at the Sani Siro built on supreme defensive organization and a near-perfect tactical set-up laid out by Dutch manager Henk Ten Cate.
Despite their listless display, the Italians have still qualified for the next phase of the competition by virtue of Werder Bremen’s 2-2 draw in Cyprus, a result that has catapulted Panathinaikos over Anorthosis Famgusta and into second place, with one group match remaining.
First Half
An essentially unspectacular first-half of football saw Henk Ten Cate’s men profit from their own conservative tactical set-up, largely stifling an Inter Milan side who had only a few days ago dismantled Juventus.
The likes of Brazilian striker Adriano struggled to find regular service thanks to some superbly disciplined positional play by Pana in both midfield and defense, with Vaggelis Mantzios again admirably taking up a particularly isolated lone striker’s role.
Despite all of their defensive efforts however, the Greeks were powerless in the face of Adriano’s raw striking instincts on ten minutes, when the former Flamengo man rattled the left upright after a fairly cohesive passing move by the home side.
It was a reminder of the gulf in class between the two sides that was perhaps not so conspicuous, given the resolve of Ten Cate’s men and the inability for Mourinho’s team to break them down consistently.
In fact, with the Athenians growing in confidence with the ball at their feet – just as they had done during a stunning win in Germany last matchday – they fashioned their first real chance of the match on fifteen minutes.
Appropriate perhaps that it arrived from a set-piece, with the Greeks not looking capable of posing a concerted attacking threat in open play given their defensive predisposition.
A Karagounis free-kick dropped to former Arsenal man Gilberto Silva in the box, who saw his close-range effort blocked before fellow countryman Gabriel wasted a wonderful opportunity from the rebound.
It was a chance that marked Panathinaikos’ best spell of the match, keeping possession comfortably for a prolonged period.
That was before the elusive Ibrahimovic almost gave Inter the lead on 29 minutes, latching onto a lofted Cambiasso pass before lifting the ball over Panathinaikos ‘keeper Galinovic and onto the roof of the net.
The Swedish superstar showed a willingness to drop into space effectively that was lacking in his strike partner. Yet even the former Juventus striker was let down by poor finishing, as Inter ended the half with a discernible lack of pace and invention.
Second Half
After a first half during which the likes of veteran centerback Ioannis Goumas thrived, it was the visitors who applied their own piece of attacking pressure in a noticeably more open start to the second period.
Moments after Greece international Nikos Spyropoulos was forced into defensive duties on his own goal-line after Galinovic’s poor handling from a corner allowed Cambiasso a chance to finish, Mate Simao unleashed a powerful – but fruitless – long-range effort after a decent passing move by the visitors.
The match quickly resumed its previous pattern however, with the visitors looking comfortable in possession and Quaresma’s half-time introduction for weekend match-winner Muntari having failed to truly galvanize an Inter side perhaps content with the point that would see them through the group stages.
Stunningly, Gabriel corner, Goumas header, Sarriegi scores.
However, the Serie A giants were stunningly undone by a Gabriel corner on 69 minutes, a previously unthinkable goal given the lack of drive and direction in the general play of the Greeks.
However, Ten Cate’s men had already shown an adventure in their set-piece plays that was understandably lacking otherwise.
Inter had been handed a first-half warning about the threat posed by the Athenians from corners when Gabriel wasted a glorious first-half opportunity after some unconvincing Milanese defending and they were made to pay for their indecisiveness by Spanish centre-back Josu Sarriegi, pouncing on the rebound after Goumas’ header from a Gabriel corner was saved by Cesar.
It prompted an immediate reply from a stunned Inter, as the previously static Adriano forged a chance for himself, forcing a low save from Galinovic just moments after the goal.
With their thousands of travelling fans particularly voiciferous, the away side again recomposed themselves, with even the oft immobile Mantzios now offering himself to the physical rigors of what was shaping up to be a tense finish.
The introduction of striker Mario Balotelli added some much need spark to the home side, the teenager proving something of a nuisance to an otherwise extremely comfortable Panathinaikos back-line – despite the presence of four Inter strikers on the same pitch.
The effervescent Galinovic was then forced into one final late save from usual last-gasp hero Cruz as the Athenians maintained their discipline and held on for a famous victory at the San Siro, moving them into second-place in Group B, one point ahead of Anorthosis Famagusta.
Temuri Ketsbaia’s side blew a two-goal lead at home to Werder Bremen, where they drew 2-2 and they will now face the Greeks in their final group game in Athens on December 9.
Inter Milan 0
Panathinaikos 1 (Sarriegi 69’)
Line-ups:
Inter Milan: Cesar, Materazzi, Cordoba, Maxwell (75’ Cruz), Maico, Cambiasso, Muntari (46’ Quaresma), Figo (72’ Balotelli), Zanetti, Adriano, Ibrahimovic
Panathinaikos: Galinovic, Goumas, Sarriegi, Vyntra, Nilsson, Spyropoulos, Gilberto, Karagounis (63’ Salpiggidis), Simao, Gabriel (84’ Tziolis), Mantzios (94’ Rukavina)
--Chris Paraskevas, Goal.com
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