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Player Ratings: Chelsea 0-1 Inter Milan
Samuel Eto'o decides matters after fine display from Mourinho's men.
Mar 16, 2010 6:16:12 PM
By Alex Dimond
CHELSEA
Ross Turnbull - 6 - Enjoyed the perfect first half, with not a save to make in the biggest game of his fledgling career. Made one basic save in the second half but was beaten by quality for Eto'o's decisive strike.
Yury Zhirkov - 5.5 - Nervous, clumsy start from the Russian who has only just returned from injury. Improved as game wore on to make a number of good interventions — most notably to prevent Eto'o and Pandev as they bore down on goal.
John Terry - 7 - Composed start put everyone at ease and he quickly became the rock at the heart of Chelsea's defense. Bullied Milito and Eto'o physically at times in a solid all-round display that wasn't quite enough to get the desired result.
Alex - 6 - Made a good early block which set the tone for his performance. Settled in well alongside Terry to thwart Inter's front-line, although some poor positioning did enable them to break through once or twice. Played Eto'o onside for the winning goal.
Branislav Ivanovic - 5.5 - Curiously timid performance from the usually so dependable Serbian, he made a number of errors in a display where nerves seemed to threaten to get the better of him. Couldn't prevent Eto'o beating Turnbull for the winner.
John Obi Mikel - 5.5 - Back to old habits after the solid performance at the weekend, making a number of clumsy fouls and failing to truly stamp his authority on the game. As things progressed, Sneijder ran rings round him.
Michael Ballack - 6 - Went close early on with a low drive that perhaps had Cesar beaten. Was reliable defensively in his midfield role, but was the natural man to give way as Ancelotti made changes to search for a vital goal.
Frank Lampard - 6 - Denied a good first-half chance by Samuel, his influence over the game grew as it went on. But Cambiasso did a good job restricting his influence and never found that one chance he needed to test Cesar.
Florent Malouda - 7.5 - The home side's most incisive attacking presence, Malouda worried the Inter backline on more than one occasion and was perhaps unlucky that one of his intricate runs didn't result in a goal. Unlucky to be on losing side.
Nicolas Anelka - 5 - Poor and peripheral throughout the game, Anelka's performance over both legs was a massive disappointment. Having said that, he did force the best save of the match from Cesar after breaking clear inside the box just before half-time.
Didier Drogba - 5 - Good hold-up play, but seemed unduly affected by the physical tactics employed against him by Lucio and Samuel and consequently lost some focus on his attacking duties. A rare poor display, sullied by another late sending off (although it seemed dubious), on the one night when the Blues needed him to be at his usual best.
Substitutes
Joe Cole - 6 - Brought on to make something happen, and in that respect he failed although the officiating at times did not help him.
Salomon Kalou - 6 - Replaced Zhirkov with just under 20 minutes to go. Blasted one optimistic well wide in an ineffectual cameo.
INTER MILAN
Julio Cesar - 6 - Made a number of decent saves, most notably from Anelka just before the break, but was never fully stretched and his clean sheet only fleetingly looked in doubt.
Javier Zanetti - 7 - Calm and dependable presence down the left. Kept Anelka very quiet throughout, and dealt with any pressure with the minimum of fuss.
Lucio - 7 - A verbal confrontation with Drogba early on showed how much the Brazilian wanted to win. Was not quite as dominant as three weeks ago, but once again won his individual battle and was key to an impressive team result.
Walter Samuel - 8 - His methods were sometimes illegal — at one point he literally wrestled Drogba to the ground off the ball — but always effective. Made a number of smart blocks and was a major force in the air in an uncompromising individual display.
Maicon - 7.5 - Made a good first-half block from Drogba's and was Inter's main threat down the right despite putting in a woeful display of crossing. Against the rampant Malouda, a lesser defender would have been torn to shreds but Maicon gave the Frenchman as good as he got.
Esteban Cambiasso - 7 - Clearly had a defensive brief, and stuck to it well with a determined and diligent performance. Shackled Lampard effectively throughout the game, was a key part of his side's defensive stability.
Thiago Motta - 7.5 - Involvement with Drogba's sending off was perhaps unsavoury, but the midfielder put in tackles and challenges all over the park and, while he missed arguably his side's best chance with a free header, was an impressive performer.
Wesley Sneijder - 8.5 - Showed amazing vision throughout, with his set piece delivery begging for someone to get on the end of it. Eventually that happened from open play, as one of many incredible through balls from the Dutchman released Eto'o for the decisive goal of the second leg.
Goran Pandev - 5.5 - Disciplined defensively, tracking back where need to help his side. But squandered a glorious chance to give his side the lead and was obvious choice to be withdrawn as Mourinho looked to secure the tie.
Diego Milito - 6 - Struggled after being so influential in the first leg. Found himself offside on more than one occasion and might be slightly relieved that the couple of gilt-edged chances he missed did not come back to haunt his side.
Samuel Eto'o - 7 - Seemed moody and off the pace, but showed his undoubted class in the end with a phenomenal finish that settled the tie. That is what world-class players do.
Substitutes
Dejan Stankovic - n/a - Came on to secure the result for his side, and only got involved in a few unsavory scraps as that aim was reached.
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Ross Turnbull - 6 - Enjoyed the perfect first half, with not a save to make in the biggest game of his fledgling career. Made one basic save in the second half but was beaten by quality for Eto'o's decisive strike.
Yury Zhirkov - 5.5 - Nervous, clumsy start from the Russian who has only just returned from injury. Improved as game wore on to make a number of good interventions — most notably to prevent Eto'o and Pandev as they bore down on goal.
John Terry - 7 - Composed start put everyone at ease and he quickly became the rock at the heart of Chelsea's defense. Bullied Milito and Eto'o physically at times in a solid all-round display that wasn't quite enough to get the desired result.
Alex - 6 - Made a good early block which set the tone for his performance. Settled in well alongside Terry to thwart Inter's front-line, although some poor positioning did enable them to break through once or twice. Played Eto'o onside for the winning goal.
Branislav Ivanovic - 5.5 - Curiously timid performance from the usually so dependable Serbian, he made a number of errors in a display where nerves seemed to threaten to get the better of him. Couldn't prevent Eto'o beating Turnbull for the winner.
John Obi Mikel - 5.5 - Back to old habits after the solid performance at the weekend, making a number of clumsy fouls and failing to truly stamp his authority on the game. As things progressed, Sneijder ran rings round him.
Michael Ballack - 6 - Went close early on with a low drive that perhaps had Cesar beaten. Was reliable defensively in his midfield role, but was the natural man to give way as Ancelotti made changes to search for a vital goal.
Frank Lampard - 6 - Denied a good first-half chance by Samuel, his influence over the game grew as it went on. But Cambiasso did a good job restricting his influence and never found that one chance he needed to test Cesar.
Florent Malouda - 7.5 - The home side's most incisive attacking presence, Malouda worried the Inter backline on more than one occasion and was perhaps unlucky that one of his intricate runs didn't result in a goal. Unlucky to be on losing side.
Nicolas Anelka - 5 - Poor and peripheral throughout the game, Anelka's performance over both legs was a massive disappointment. Having said that, he did force the best save of the match from Cesar after breaking clear inside the box just before half-time.
Didier Drogba - 5 - Good hold-up play, but seemed unduly affected by the physical tactics employed against him by Lucio and Samuel and consequently lost some focus on his attacking duties. A rare poor display, sullied by another late sending off (although it seemed dubious), on the one night when the Blues needed him to be at his usual best.
Substitutes
Joe Cole - 6 - Brought on to make something happen, and in that respect he failed although the officiating at times did not help him.
Salomon Kalou - 6 - Replaced Zhirkov with just under 20 minutes to go. Blasted one optimistic well wide in an ineffectual cameo.
INTER MILAN
Julio Cesar - 6 - Made a number of decent saves, most notably from Anelka just before the break, but was never fully stretched and his clean sheet only fleetingly looked in doubt.
Javier Zanetti - 7 - Calm and dependable presence down the left. Kept Anelka very quiet throughout, and dealt with any pressure with the minimum of fuss.
Lucio - 7 - A verbal confrontation with Drogba early on showed how much the Brazilian wanted to win. Was not quite as dominant as three weeks ago, but once again won his individual battle and was key to an impressive team result.
Walter Samuel - 8 - His methods were sometimes illegal — at one point he literally wrestled Drogba to the ground off the ball — but always effective. Made a number of smart blocks and was a major force in the air in an uncompromising individual display.
Maicon - 7.5 - Made a good first-half block from Drogba's and was Inter's main threat down the right despite putting in a woeful display of crossing. Against the rampant Malouda, a lesser defender would have been torn to shreds but Maicon gave the Frenchman as good as he got.
Esteban Cambiasso - 7 - Clearly had a defensive brief, and stuck to it well with a determined and diligent performance. Shackled Lampard effectively throughout the game, was a key part of his side's defensive stability.
Thiago Motta - 7.5 - Involvement with Drogba's sending off was perhaps unsavoury, but the midfielder put in tackles and challenges all over the park and, while he missed arguably his side's best chance with a free header, was an impressive performer.
Wesley Sneijder - 8.5 - Showed amazing vision throughout, with his set piece delivery begging for someone to get on the end of it. Eventually that happened from open play, as one of many incredible through balls from the Dutchman released Eto'o for the decisive goal of the second leg.
Goran Pandev - 5.5 - Disciplined defensively, tracking back where need to help his side. But squandered a glorious chance to give his side the lead and was obvious choice to be withdrawn as Mourinho looked to secure the tie.
Diego Milito - 6 - Struggled after being so influential in the first leg. Found himself offside on more than one occasion and might be slightly relieved that the couple of gilt-edged chances he missed did not come back to haunt his side.
Samuel Eto'o - 7 - Seemed moody and off the pace, but showed his undoubted class in the end with a phenomenal finish that settled the tie. That is what world-class players do.
Substitutes
Dejan Stankovic - n/a - Came on to secure the result for his side, and only got involved in a few unsavory scraps as that aim was reached.
Get all the latest Champions League news with Goal.com's dedicated page.
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