United held by Inter in San Siro
Ronaldo went closes to breaking the deadlock
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Tuesday, 24, Feb 2009 11:06
Manchester United failed to score the away goal their performance deserved as they were held to a goalless draw by Inter Milan in the San Siro.
The visitors thoroughly dominated the first half, and although Inter came back into the game in the second period, Sir Alex Ferguson may rue the fact that they didn't take the opportunity to kill the tie off when they had the chance.
United nearly opened the scoring in the fifth minute when an outswinging corner from Ryan Giggs was by a powerful Cristiano Ronaldo header which was well saved by Cesar.
Ronaldo then went close with a free-kick from long-range before Giggs had a great opportunity to open the scoring.
The veteran did brilliantly to spin past Nelson Rivas from Michael Carrick's past but the Welshman opted to shoot rather than square to Dimitar Berbatov and Cesar managed to block the powerful shot at the near post.
Cesar was called into action again moments later from another dipping Ronaldo free-kick and the Portuguese winger went even closer just seconds later when he flashed a header wide with the goalkeeper stranded.
The Inter players were no doubt on the receiving end of some harsh words from Mourinho during the interval and started the second half in a much brighter fashion.
Esteban Cambiasso crossed from the left and when Zlatan Ibrahimovic dummied the Brazilian Adriano scuffed his shot when he really should have done better.
Moments later Javier Zanetti crossed from the right but Adriano couldn't get a head on it with Edwin van der Sar out of position.
At this stage the game was end-to-end and Ronaldo and John O'Shea worked the ball well down the right but when the winger played the ball across the six-yard box there was no United player on hand for what would have been the simplest of opportunities.
Giggs then went on a mazy run but his left-footed shot was brilliantly blocked by Ivan Cordoba.
Inter should have won it with nine minutes to go when Dejan Stankovic's corner made it all the way through to Cambiasso who failed to convert from three yards.
In injury-time Ronaldo once again tested Cesar from a long-range free-kick and although Ferguson will be pleased with the performance they may rue the lack of an away goal in two weeks' time at Old Trafford.