Inter take first-leg lead

Wednesday, 29, Mar 2006 10:53

Inter Milan came from a goal down to secure a 2-1 win over Villarreal in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the San Siro.

Diego Forlan gave the away side the lead inside the first 60 seconds before goals from Brazilian striker Adriano and Obafemi Martins gave the Italian side a narrow advantage to take to Spain for the second leg.

If Inter coach Roberto Mancini wanted to stop the Spaniards from claiming an away goal, his hopes disappeared inside 56 seconds as Villarreal took the lead.

Playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme was a constant threat all night and he picked out Jose Mari, who was allowed to shoot.

Inter goalkeeper Francesco Toldo couldn't keep hold of the strike and former Manchester United forward Forlan was on hand to tap the ball home.

The home side, to their credit, weren't knocked out of their stride and Adriano had a clever lob cleared off the line by Javi Venta moments later.

However, he only had to wait until the seventh minute to get his fifth goal of the competition as Juan Manuel Pena failed to deal with Dejan Stankovic's cross and the 24-year-old made no mistake.

Despite chances for both teams, it wasn't until nine minutes into the second-half when the stalemate was broken and it was the home side who went ahead.

Stankovic was once again the provider as his dangerous centre from the right was turned in from close range by Martins.

Riquelme struck a sweet shot on the hour mark which rattled the bar but the home side held on for the last half-hour.