Liverpool oust Inter from Champions League at San Siro
Fernando Torres' goal ensured four English clubs reach Champions League last-eight
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Tuesday, 11, Mar 2008 10:47
Liverpool became the fourth English club to reach the Champions League last-eight with victory over Inter Milan.
Fernando Torres continued his ominous form with a stunning goal in the 64th minute to give Liverpool a 3-0 aggregate win and a 1-0 victory on the night.
The Reds went into the match 2-0 up already after an impressive display at home, but took 64 minutes to break the deadlock at the San Siro.
The game turned when Nicolas Burdisso was sent off just after the break for getting a second yellow for a high challenge on Lucas Leiva.
Burdisso had only just returned to Champions League action for Inter after serving a six-game ban for the infamous brawl at Valencia last season.
Inter wasted a whole host of chances with Julio Cruz forcing Pepe Reina into two good saves.
The victory leaves Liverpool on course for their third final in four years and marks the first time any country has dominated the Champions League in such a fashion.
It was Inter who started the brighter, and after eight minutes Cruz shot low and hard from the edge of the box but Reina pushed the ball around the post.
After 15 minutes, Liverpool seemed more settled and resisted the temptation to sit on their two-goal cushion.
A slip by Esteban Cambiasso let in Torres, who forced a solid block from Julio Cesar at his near post.
Inter should have gone ahead when Cruz met Maicon's cross with a neat flick, but Reina was quick to react and keep the score level.
Dirk Kuyt missed a handful of chances, and Inter were the lucky ones going into the break level.
In the 64th minute Fernando Torres flicked up Fabio Aurelio's pass and smashed a shot straight into the bottom corner
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was guilty of an awful miss after 56 minutes and was horribly off target after 78 minutes when away and clear, but in the end Liverpool held out to win the game and the tie with relative ease.