Internazionale 3-0 Fenerbahçe
FC Internazionale Milano are through to the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds after second-half strikes by Julio Cruz, Zlatan Ibrahimović and Luis Antonio Jiménez ended Fenerbahçe SK's unbeaten run.
Second-half strikes
The assured finishes meant that Inter are already confirmed as Group G winners with a match to spare after a fourth straight victory since their Matchday 1 loss in Istanbul. Fenerbahçe remain second but must win at home to PFC CSKA Moskva in a fortnight to ensure PSV Eindhoven cannot overtake them with three points at home to Inter.
Higher stakes
On Inter coach Roberto Mancini's 43rd birthday, Fenerbahçe chief Zico had said he was hoping for a present from CSKA, for had they avoided defeat against PSV in the early kick-off, both the Italian and Turkish champions would have been through. Instead PSV won to raise the stakes in Milan where only victory would guarantee either side’s progress.
Stanković return
Inter's recent injury dilemma was partially eased by the return of Dejan Stanković and he threaded a clever early ball through to Julio Cruz, who stretched to find Maxwell on the left. The Brazilian's cross was met by Ibrahimović only for his shot to be blocked by Edu. Stanković was also at the end of a right-wing cross by Javier Zanetti 13 minutes in, but the Serbia midfielder failed to direct it goalwards.
Inter pressure
Although the pace of Gökçek Vederson and Gökan Gönül on both flanks made the visitors threatening on the break they were largely reduced to long shots. Vederson and Roberto Carlos scarcely troubled Júlio César with hopeful attempts. It was another South American, Cruz, who dragged his shot from 18 metres across goal on 28 minutes, Stanković following suit with a similar effort on the half-hour, moments after Selçuk Şahin had turned Ibrahimović's low cross over his own crossbar as the hosts began to turn the screw.
Opening goal
Ten minutes after the restart the Nerazzurri threatened again when Ibrahimović fed Cruz on the left and the striker curled his right-footed shot just over. The visitors almost caught Inter cold when Alex was left unmarked in the area but the Brazilian playmaker sent his shot wide and would rue the missed chance. Maxwell, receiving possession on the left, raced to the byline and centred for Cruz, who just got his head to the ball as Edu attempted to clear.
Win sealed
The noise of the 5,000-strong away fans behind Volkan Demirel's goal had been stilled and there was even less for them to cheer about midway through the second half when Ibrahimović made it 2-0. The danger again came from the left, this time through Cristian Chivu, whose centre was left by Cruz and controlled by the 26-year-old at the far post. He had time to pick his spot to become the first player to five UEFA Champions League goals this season. Chile midfielder Jiménez came off the bench for his second competition appearance and added a maiden goal as a further present for Mancini.
CSKA Moskva 0-1 PSV
PSV Eindhoven kept their hopes of progress in the UEFA Champions League alive as Jefferson Farfán's goal late in the first half gave them a hard-earned victory at PFC CSKA Moskva.
CSKA denied
Nothing less than a victory was needed for PSV to remain in touch in Group G and although CSKA had the better of the game, they were unable to cancel out Farfan's 39th-minute header. The result ended the Russian side's hopes of clinching a UEFA Cup place and means they will finish bottom of the section. PSV could qualify for the knockout stage should they defeat FC Internazionale Milano on 12 December, and will at least play some European football in the new year.
Home pressure
Considering the sleety conditions it was unsurprising that both teams took their time to settle. PSV, without injured captain Timmy Simons, his midfield deputy Tommie van der Leegte and the suspended Eric Addo, nearly fell behind early when Deividas Šemberas put in a low cross and Ramón turned it just wide. Dawid Janczyk, leading the CSKA line in the absence of Vágner Love and Jô, also went close. PSV had another scare when Farfán had to receive lengthy treatment.
Bundled goal
He was free to continue, however, but CSKA still threatened and Sergei Ignashevich shot over from distance. However, with six minutes left in the first half PSV revived their hopes in the group. Teenage defender Dirk Marcellis, whose own goal on Matchday 4 at Fenerbahçe SK had set PSV on the way to defeat, advanced up the right wing and crossed into the centre. CSKA captain Ignashevich tried to cut it out, but the ball looped off his foot into the goalmouth and Farfán bundled it in.
Attempted comeback
CSKA's campaign has been marked by unfortunate home results against Fenerbahçe and Inter and they emerged for the second half determined to avoid another one. Yuri Zhirkov's crossed free-kick was headed only just over by Dudu and Jancyzk forced Heurelho Gomes into a save. Fine work from Elvir Rahimić and Zhirkov seemed to have set up Dudu, but Slobodan Rajković did excellently to block the shot at source.
Rahimić miss
Danko Lazović broke forward for PSV, but he stepped on the ball as he approached Igor Akinfeev in the CSKA goal. At the other end, Gomes denied Evgeni Aldonin as he tried his luck with an angled effort. Šemberas found Jancyzk, but his strike was deflected away, and although a corner from substitute Caner Erkin was misjudged by Gomes, Rahimić headed over with the goal gaping. Still CSKA kept pushing, but PSV held firm with a last-gasp Gomes save from Vasili Berezutski ensuring the next European games for the deposed Russian champions will be in the 2008/09 UEFA Cup.
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