Final score

4 November 2008 20:45

Anorthosis
5' (2nd half) Frousos
46' Panagi
31' Bardon
Inter
35' (2nd half) Cruz
44' Materazzi
13' Balotelli
Referee: Laurent Duhamel / Linesmen: S. Duhamel, N. Pottier / Fourth official: D. Ledentu
Minute Text commentary
48' It's 2-2 at the GSP Stadium after an action-packed first half.
46' GOAL. Anorthosis level for the second time as Cambiasso's attempt at a headed clearance from Dobrasinovic goes in off substitute Panagi. ANORTHOSIS 2-2 INTER.
45' 2 minutes of added time.
45' Anorthosis midfielder Bardon goes close to a quick equaliser, his shot deflected round for a corner.
44' GOAL!!!!!! Marco Materazzi's low header from Balotelli's corner goes through Beqaj legs, and we're back in front in Cyprus ANORTHOSIS 1-2 INTER.
44' Maicon's right-wing cross takes a deflection and Inter win their second corner of the game.
43' Ketsbaia is forced into a change. Georgios Panagi comes on for the injured Paulo Costa.
42' Beqaj blocks Quaresma's snapshot.
39' Unmarked in the area, Mario Balotelli gets on the end of Stankovic's headed pass and hooks wide of the far post.
39' Constantinou makes a headed interception and Taher sweeps to safety after Quaresma looks for Balotelli with a trivela cross from the left.
35' Inter back on the attack and Ibrahimovic has a shot saved by Albanian keeper Beqaj.
34' Burdisso redeems himself slightly with a brilliant headed clearance from Paulo Costa's right-wing inswinger.
31' GOAL. Nicolas Burdisso miscues his headed clearance from a long-range cross and French midfielder Cédric Bardon is on hand to slots into an open net. ANORTHOSIS 1-1 INTER.
27' Dejan Stankovic sends a low shot across the face of the goal and wide of Beqaj's right-hand post.
26' Inter win their first corner of the game after Quaresma's deep cross spins off Taher. Nothing comes of Balotelli's right-wing delivery.
26' Brilliant ball down the right by Maicon for Quaresma. The Portuguese returns the favour and the Brazilian crosses. Constantinou clears.
20' Katsavakis intercepts Mancini's inswinging cross for Balotelli and makes a hooked clearance. Quaresma's follow-up from distance is wide.
18' Anorthosis win a corner after Materazzi denies Frousos. Taher's cross is cleared by Balotelli at the near post.
15' Dobrasinovic tries to surprise Julio Cesar from 30 yards but the Serbian's effort is a couple of metres wide.
13' That was Mario Balotelli's first goal in the Champions League.
13' GOAL!!!! Balotelli tucks home from close range after Beqaj fails to hold Ibrahimovic's long-range free kick. ANORTHOSIS 0-1 INTER.
12' Julio Cesar is quick off his line to beat the onrushing Taher to a through ball.
11' Ibrahimovic plays in Balotelli but the Italian can't find space for a shot. He plays wide to Quaresma, whose right-wing cross is saved by Beqaj.
6' Maicon storms down the right and plays square to Quaresma. The Portuguese fires a low shot wide of Beqaj's left-hand post.
3' Anorthosis win the first corner of the game. Materazzi's headed clearance falls to Bardon, whose long-range shot is way off target.
3' Beqaj makes a miraculous save from Ibrahimovic after palming clear Maicon's right-wing cross.
2' Quaresma's low cross for Ibrahimovic is poked clear by Paulo Costa.
1' A win and we're through. Three points against Anorthosis at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia will seal our place in the last sixteen of the Champions League with two group stage matches left to play.
1' Anorthosis kick off in Nicosia.
1' Anorthosis coach Ketsbaia has made four changes to the team that lost 1-0 in Milan in Matchday 3, bringing in Georgiou, Paulo Costa, Taher and Frousos for Ocokoljic, Dellas, Savio and Sosin.
1' Marco Materazzi and Nicoolas Burdisso return in defence and will be flanked by full-backs Maicon and Zanetti. In goal, as announced in yesterday's news conference, is Julio Cesar.
1' Mourinho starts with Ibra and Balotelli up front. Cambiasso returns in midfield and will partner Stankovic in the middle, with Quaresma and Mancini on the wings.
Minute Text commentary
49' Duhamel blows for full time. Anorthosis Famagusta 3-3 Inter.
49' Ibrahimovic heads wide Quaresma's floated cross with Cruz lurking in space at the back post.
48' Cruz overhits his return pass for Ibrahimovic as Inter look to snatch a winner on the counter-attack.
45' Four minutes of overtime.
45' Beqaj saves Balotelli's deep cross from the left.
42' Panagi fires a right-foot shot on target from 30 yards. Julio Cesar saves the Greek's low effort.
40' Ibra is presented with an open net after a lofted pass from Vieira, but the Swede miscues.
38' Anorthosis hit Inter on the break but Hawar Taher fails to capitalise.
37' Amazing save from Beqaj. The Albanian somehow keeps out Cambiasso's far post header after Cruz' headed pass from a right-wing corner by Balotelli. However, it is unclear whether the ball had crossed the line.
36' GOAL!!!! Julio Cruz heads home Balotelli's 30-yard free kick. ANORTHOSIS 3-3 INTER.
34' Balotelli's inswinging cross from the left is saved by Beqaj.
33' Anorthosis make their final switch. Predrag Ocokoljic comes on for Cédric Bardon, the scorer of their first equaliser tonight.
32' Beqaj beats Ibrahimovic to a cross.
31' Beqaj pulls off a brilliant two-handed block from Zlatan Ibrahimovic after a mazy run by Maxwell.
24' Materazzi closes down Taher on the right wing and concedes a corner. Inter fail to clear the corner and Constantinou forces Julio Cesar into a tipped save. Another corner.
21' Julio Cesar makes a crucial save at his right-hand post as Anorthosis look to increase their lead through Laban.
20' Javier Zanetti's long-range shot is deflected behind for a corner after Ibrahimovic's shot is cleared.
18' Ketsbaia makes his second substitution. Giannis Skopelitis replaces goalscorer Nikos Frousos.
17' Beqaj gets down well to save Julio Cruz' flicked header from Quaresma's right-wing cross.
13' Mourinho makes a treble substitution, bringing off Stankovic, Burdisso and Mancini and replacing them with Vieira, Cruz and Maxwell.
11' Quaresma swings in a cross from the right. The Anorthosis defence clears.
6' Stankovic has a go from distance. The Serb's shot is wide.
5' GOAL. Nikos Frousos fires an angled shot past Julio Cesar after another mistake by Burdisso, and Anorthosis are in front. ANORTHOSIS 3-2 INTER.
1' Inter get the second half under way.
1' Cambiasso's first-time shot from 25 yards takes a wicked deflection, forcing Beqaj into a difficult save, and it's a corner for the Nerazzurri.
Zanetti
5.74
5.74
Materazzi
6.48
6.48
Cruz
7.57
7.57
Stankovic
5.7
5.7
Cambiasso
6.74
6.74
Burdisso
2.66
2.66
Julio Cesar
6.29
6.29
Maicon
6.33
6.33
Maxwell
5.65
5.65
Vieira
4.88
4.88
Ibrahimovic
4.86
4.86
Balotelli
6.61
6.61
Mancini
4.25
4.25
Quaresma
5.29
5.29
Average rating 5.65
5 shots on target 13
7 shots off target 7
12 fouls committed 15
5 corners 6
2 offsides 1
23:28 ball possession 28:51
Inter v Anorthosis

The 2008/09 Champions League Matchday 3 clash in Milan was the first ever meeting between the two teams.

Details:
2008/09 Champions League Anorthosis-Inter ---- 0-1

Anorthosis v Italian clubs

Anorthosis have lost all five of their previous European cup encounters with Italian clubs, conceding a total of 17 goals.

Details:
1992/93 Coppa Uefa Anorthosis-Juventus 0-4 1-6
2005/06 Coppa Uefa Anorthosis-Palermo 0-4 1-2
2008/09 Champions League Anorthosis-Inter ---- 0-1

Inter v Cypriot teams

Inter face Cypriot opposition for the third time in their history after the Champions League Matchday 3 win in Milan and the 1993/94 UEFA Cup round of 32 tie with Apollon Limassol, when the Nerazzurri progressed through to the round of sixteen thanks to a home win and an away draw.

Details:
1993/94 Coppa Uefa Inter-Apollon Limassol 1-0 3-3 2008/09 Champions League Inter-Anorthosis 1-0 ----

Cypriot clubs winless against Italian opposition

Italian teams are unbeaten in matches against clubs from Cyprus, with 16 wins and 3 draws from 19 matches, and 57 goals scored.

Anorthosis on record run

Anorthosis Famagusta go into Matchday 4 on the back of four consecutive home wins in the Champions League: against Pyunic (1-0), Rapid Vienna (3-0), Olympiakos (3-0) and Panathinaikos (3-1). Never before in European competitions have the Cypriots won more than two home matches in a row.

Palermo last team to win away to Anorthosis

Anorthosis have won 5 matches (including 4 out of last 4) and drawn 2 since their last defeat in Europe - a 0-4 UEFA Cup loss to Palermo on 29 September 2005.

The ref: Duhamel

French official Laurent Duhamel, born on 10 October 1968, has been an international referee since 1999. He has already refereed two Champions League matches this term: Galatasaray 2-2 Steaua Bucharest in the preliminary round and Barcelona 3-1 Sporting Lisbon in Matchday 1. Duhamel has never taken charge of an Inter or Anorthosis fixture before.

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(0) draws(1) defeats(0)

NICOSIA - Inter held Anorthosis to a 3-3 draw despite twice taking the lead in Tuesday's Champions League Matchday 4 clash at the GSP Stadium.

Mario Balotelli and Marco Materazzi had goals cancelled out by Cédric Bardon and Giorgos Panagi in the first half.

Second-half substitute Julio Cruz equalised late on after Nikos Frousos stunned the Nerazzurri with Anorthosis' third goal just after the break.

Inter remain three points clear of the Cypriots at the top of Group B, with Panathinaikos moving up to third spot after their 3-0 victory over Werder Bremen.

Mourinho's men were straight into attack in Nicosia and Albanian goalkeeper Beqaj saved Ibrahimovic's low effort with his feet after palming clear Maicon's cross.

The home side hit back on the counter-attack but Julio Cesar was quick off his line to thwart the onrushing Taher.

Inter were in front inside 13 minutes when Balotelli slotted home his first Champions League goal from near range after Beqaj failed to hold Ibrahimovic's blistering long-range free kick.

Determined to keep intact their unbeaten run at home this season, Anorthosis soaked up a period of pressure and equalised just past the half hour when Bardon pounced on Burdisso's miscued headed clearance before slotting into an open net.

Ibrahimovic and Quaresma had shots saved, with Balotelli hooking just wide as Inter battled to retake the lead, and they did on 44 minutes when Materazzi headed low through Beqaj's legs from Balotelli's corner.

The lead was short-lived as Anorthosis equalised again in added time at the end of the first half. Cambiasso's attempt at a headed clearance from Dobrasinovic went in off substitute Panagi, who came on for the injured Paulo Costa in the 43rd minute.

Anorthosis forward Frousos sent the home fans wild five minutes after the break, firing an angled shot past Julio Cesar after a second mistake by Burdisso, and Inter found themselves with a task on their hands.

Mourinho played all his cards in one go, hauling off Stankovic, Burdisso and Mancini and replacing them with Vieira, Cruz and Maxwell.

Cruz sparked a reaction when his flicked header from Quaresma's cross was kept out by Beqaj. But Ketsbaia's side came looking for a fourth and almost got it in the 69th when Constantinou forced Julio Cesar into a tipped save.

Beqaj made a brilliant two-handed block from Zlatan Ibrahimovic after a mazy run by Maxwell as Inter threw everything into attack. The reward came with nine minutes left when Cruz headed in Balotelli's 30-yard free kick for his thirteenth Champions League goal in black and blue.

Inter created chances for a late winner and Anorthosis had Beqaj to thank for a goalline clearance from Cambiasso's header, before Ibrahimovic miscued in front of an open goal.

Anorthosis 3-3 Inter (HT: 2-2)

Scorers: Balotelli 13, Bardon 31, Materazzi 44, Panagi 45+1, Frousos 50, Cruz 81.

Anorthosis Famagusta: 1 Beqaj; 28 Georgiou, 4 Katsavakis, 24 Constantinou, 12 Leiwakabessy; 27 Bardon (22 Ocokoljic 78), 6 Dobrasinovic, 20 Laban; 19 Taher, 11 Frousos (8 Skopelitis 63), 10 Paulo Costa (21 Panagi 43).
Subs not used: 30 Nagy, 9 Sosin, 16 Tsitaishvili, 23 Samaras.
Coach: Temuri Ketsbaia.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 16 Burdisso (14 Vieira 58), 23 Materazzi, 4 Zanetti; 77 Quaresma, 19 Cambiasso, 5 Stankovic (9 Cruz 58), 33 Mancini (6 Maxwell 58); 8 Ibrahimovic, 45 Balotelli.
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 2 Cordoba, 39 Santon, 36 Bolzoni.
Coach: José Mourinho.

Referee: Laurent Duhamel (France).

starting lineups

Beqaj 12 Julio Cesar
Frousos 13 Maicon
Costantinou 16 Burdisso
Leiwakabessy 23 Materazzi
Georgiou 4 Zanetti
Katsavakis 77 Quaresma
Laban 19 Cambiasso
Dobrasinovic 5 Stankovic
Paulo Costa 33 Mancini
Bardon 8 Ibrahimovic
Taher 45 Balotelli

substitutes

Nagy 1 Toldo
Skopelitis 2 Cordoba
Sosin 6 Maxwell
Tsitaishvili 39 Santon
Panagi 14 Vieira
Ocokoljic 36 Bolzoni
Samaras 9 Cruz