Final score

26 February 2004 21:00

Sochaux
36' (2nd half) Frau
14' (2nd half) Frau
Inter
16' (2nd half) Recoba
8' Vieri
Referee: Luis Medina Cantalejo / Linesmen: Pedro Medina Hernandez, Victoriano Giraldez Carra / Fourth official: Alfonso Perez Burrull
Minute Text commentary
47' Luis Medina Cantalejo blows for half-time. Sochaux 0-1 Inter.
47' Recoba dances past two opponents but can't get past a third and Sochaux move out of defence.
45' There will be 2 minutes of added time.
45' Van der Meyde just fails to make aerial contact with C.Zanetti's curled left-wing cross.
43' Inter's other Zanetti is booked for fouling Daf on the right wing. Free kick to Sochaux, and Cristiano will miss the return leg.
42' Sochaux come forward. After a cross from the left and one from the right, Pedretti's first-time shot from 20 yards flashes wide of the left-hand post.
41' Vieri receives with his back to the goal then turns and tries to lob Gnanhouan, who is off his line. The Inter striker's effort is off-target.
40' Oruma finds space for himself outside the Nerazzurri box then fires right-footed just wide of the left-hand post.
38' Pasquale and C.Zanetti make two good tackles in midfield but the Nerazzurri eventually lose possession.
37' Vieri's header from J.Zanetti's right-wing cross goes over the crossbar.
36' Vieri is flagged offside as he races onto a through ball.
35' Inter captain Javier Zanetti is booked for foul play.
34' Van der Meyde makes a run down the left wing, letting the ball do the work. The Dutchman crosses into the penalty box, where Diawara heads clear.
34' Diawara beats Vieri to Pasquale's high pass and heads clear.
33' Inter build up a good passing move inside the Sochaux half. C.Zanetti's final pass is wayward and the French defence clears.
31' From outside the area Pedretti strikes a loose ball with the outside of his right foot. It's not far wide of Toldo's right-hand post.
30' Sochaux win a right-wing corner. Mathieu's cross is blocked by Pasquale. Another corner to the French.
29' Vieri receives outside the Sochaux area and is intrercepted by Flachez.
28' Cordoba makes a crucial intervention at the near post to prevent Mathieu from connecting with a left-wing cross. Corner to the home side.
27' Monsoreau heads back to Gnanhouan to deny Recoba a chance from Vieri's assist.
26' Recoba plays his free kick to Vieri, who is anticipated inside the Sochaux penalty area.
25' Flachez barges into Vieri and we win a free kick in a central position 30 yards out.
24' Gnanhouan anticipates Adani and collects.
23' Vieri is tackled on the right-wing by-line and Inter win a corner.
23' Toldo makes an authoritative catch from the corner kick.
22' Vieri is intercepted by Pedretti as he receives a ball in midfield. Sochaux advance and win a right-wing corner.
20' Mathieu's curled free kick finishes over Toldo's bar.
19' Free kick to Sochaux in a central position 25 yards out after C.Zanetti fouls Frau.
18' Zairi shows his pace again on the left flank. Toldo collect's the Morocco player's cross to the near post.
17' Cordoba anticipates Frau to a pass then brings the ball out of defence.
16' Zairi zips down the left wing, manages to keep the ball in play then crosses into the box. Inter head clear.
15' Daf's ambitious shot from the distance is well off-target.
14' Sabri Lamouchi brings down Oruma on the left wing and the home side win a free kick.
13' Great save by Toldo, who pushes Zairi's ferocious, diagonal shot from the left over the bar. Corner.
11' Frau beats the Nerazzurri offside trap and tries to bring down a long ball forward but Toldo comes out of his area and clears.
10' Daf heads clear a long ball forward for Pasquale on the left wing.
8' GOAL!!!! Vieri pops up at the near post to head home van der Meyde's left-wing corner kick.
7' Superb play by van der Meyde, who wriggles free of two opponents, advances into the box then wins a corner for Inter.
7' Flachez's header from the set piece is on target, but Toldo saves.
6' Zairi takes on C.Zanetti and Pasquale on the right before being brought down by Cordoba. Free kick to the home side.
5' Sochaux on the attack. Frau heads Mathieu's left-wing cross at the near post. Toldo gets down to make the save.
3' Frau fails to get on the end of a long ball forward and Francesco Toldo collects.
2' Inter win a free kick 30 yards out. Recoba's left-footed effort goes high over the far post.
1' After a minute's silence in memory of Uefa honorary president Jacques Georges, Sochaux kick off against Inter.
1' Cristiano Zanetti cuts out a Sochaux attack and sets up van der Meyde, who runs half the pitch before being tackled in the French box.
Minute Text commentary
49' Full-time. Sochaux 2-2 Inter.
48' Monsoreau blasts clear Okan's right-wing cross for Cruz.
46' Inter substitution: Recoba off, Cruz on.
45' 4 minutes of additional time to play.
45' Gnanhouan comes off his line to beat Vieri to C.Zanetti's high cross from the left.
44' Frau is in the wars again. Adani is booked for a challenge on Sochaux's goalscorer.
43' Helveg is booked for a foul on Frau.
42' From close range Frau glances a header wide of the right-hand post.
42' Recoba tries to dribble three Sochaux players but is tackled by Pedretti.
39' Sochaux win a free kick 30 yards out. Mathieu shoots at the near post, Toldo pulls off an acrobatic save. Corner.
38' Cristiano Zanetti is back on the pitch.
37' Sochaux equalise. Toldo fumbles a long-range shot, Frau pounces and hits the post then slots home from the rebound.
34' The Italy midfielder is stretchered off.
33' Cristiano Zanetti remains on the ground following a clash with an opponent and requires treatment to his lower back.
32' Sochaux coach Lacombe brings on Boudarene for Zairi, who has been less effective in the second half.
31' Okan capitalises on a defensive mistake by the French, finds his way into the area then is tackled by Flachez.
30' Toldo makes a crucial one-handed save from Mathieu, who sprints past Helveg on the left then crosses into the six-yard box.
27' The Nigerian takes the free kick himself. His effort comes off Pasquale.
26' Free kick to Sochaux 25 yards out after Lamouchi brings down Oruma from behind.
25' Okan remains on the ground after a challenge by Mathieu. The Turk receives treatment to his right hand on the touchline and we're momentarily down to ten men.
22' Helveg shields the ball well inside the Inter box to allow Toldo to collect before Frau can pounce.
20' Okan plays short to Recoba, who turns his marker then shoots wide of the right-hand post.
18' Good defending by Helveg, who beats Frau to a long ball forward and heads back to Toldo.
16' RECOBA!!!! Superb goal by Il Chino, who gets on the end of C.Zanetti's pass, shrugs off a challenge from Daf then fires into the far corner.
14' At the other end Sochaux draw level through Frau, who from inside the box controls a left-wing cross, turns Adani then shoots past Toldo.
14' Vieri beats the offside trap, brings down a long ball forward then sends a low, left-foot shot wide of the far post.
13' Zaccheroni makes his first substitution: Okan replaces van der Meyde.
11' Gnanhouan anticipates Recoba to a through ball.
10' Free kick to Sochaux after C.Zanetti is adjudged to have fouled Isabey in midfield.
10' Mathieu latches on to Helveg's wayward clearance then sends a low, weak shot straight at Toldo.
8' Oruma is booked for a foul on Adani.
7' The Colombian heads clear the free kick whipped into the area.
6' Zairi is tripped by Cordoba on the right wing. Free kick.
5' Recoba's left-wing cross for Vieri is cut out by the Sochaux defence.
3' Inter put together a series of twenty passes, then the ball is played forward to Recoba, who is in an offside position.
2' Recoba plays high over the Sochaux defence but goalkeeper Gnanhouan beats van der Meyde to the ball.
1' Inter get the second half underway.
1' Pasquale plays a one-two with van der Meyde on the left but can't stop the ball from going out of play before crossing.
Recoba
6.65
6.65
Vieri
6.37
6.37
Zanetti
7.65
7.65
Zanetti
6.28
6.28
Cordoba
6.11
6.11
Okan
6.34
6.34
Toldo
4.27
4.27
Pasquale
5.4
5.4
Adani
6.1
6.1
Lamouchi
5.32
5.32
Van Der Meyde
6.49
6.49
Helveg
5.61
5.61
Cruz
5.86
5.86
Average rating 6.03
9 shots on target 4
6 shots off target 4
0 fouls committed 0
5 corners 4
2 offsides 2
00 ball possession 00
Sochaux v Inter

The two sides have never met in official matches.

Sochaux v Italian clubs

Sochaux face an Italian side over two legs for the second time. The French outfit lost to Fiorentina on the away goals rule in the 1989/90 Uefa Cup and were comprehensively beaten by Bologna in the 1936/37 Paris Exhibition Tournament.

In detail:

1936/37 Paris Exhibition Tournament Sochaux-Bologna 1-4 (in Paris)
1989/90 Uefa Cup Sochaux- Fiorentina 1-1 0-0

Inter v French sides

The Nerazzurri have recorded 9 victories, 6 draws and 4 victories from their 19 previous meetings with French teams. Inter have let in goals on 8 of those occasions but have always progressed in two-legged ties against teams from across the Alps.

In detail:

1958/60 Fairs/Uefa Cup Inter-Olympique Lyon 7-0 1-1
1963/64 European Cup Inter- Monaco 1-0 3-1
1980/81 European Cup Inter- Nantes 1-1 2-1
1985/86 Uefa Cup Inter-Nantes 3-0 3-3
1987 Mundialito Inter-Paris Saint Germain 0-0 ----
1996/97 Uefa Cup Inter-Guingamp 1-1 3-0
1996/97 Uefa Cup Inter-Monaco 3-1 0-1
1997/98 Uefa Cup Inter-Olympique Lyon 1-2 3-1
1997/98 Uefa Cup Inter-Strasbourg 3-0 0-2
2002/03 Champions League Inter-Olympique Lyon 1-2 3-3

Inter: 29th participation in Uefa Cup

Inter have won the Uefa Cup on three occasions (in 1990/91, 1993/94 and 1997/98), and have played a total of 176 matches in the competition, with 88 victories, 38 draws, 50 defeats, 285 goals scored and 163 let in. The last time Inter took part in the Uefa Cup was in 2001/02 when they were eliminated by Feyenoord over two legs in the semi-final. The Dutch outfit won 1-0 at the San Siro and drew 2-2 in the return leg in Rotterdam. Inter's top scorer in the Uefa Cup is Alessandro Altobelli with 21 goals, while with 9 goals in 1969/70 Roberto Boninsegna is Nerazzurri's top scorer in a single edition of the tournament.

193-minute invincibility for Sochaux

Hayles' goal in the 77th minute of Sochaux v Fulham on 7 August 2002 was the last let in by Inter's Uefa Cup third round opponents. Sochaux have kept a clean sheet for the remaining 13 minutes of that match plus the first and second round ties against Finns Mypa and Germans Borussia Dortmund.

Shaky away form

The Nerazzurri are without an away victory since last 14 December when they beat Bologna 2-0 in the championship. Since then Inter have managed 5 draws and 3 defeats from Serie A and Coppa Italia matches.

No Nerazzurri win in four European games

Inter haven't won in Europe since the 2-1 victory at home to Dynamo Kiev on 30 September 2003. Since then, Zaccheroni's side have drawn 2 and lost 2, with at least a goal let in during each match for a total of 11. The Nerazzurri's last match in European competitions without conceding a goal was on 14 September 2003 (Arsenal 0-3 Inter).

Referee: Medina Cantalejo

Born on 1 March 1964, Luis Medina Cantalejo has been an international referee since 2001. The Spanish official has taken charge of matches involving Italian teams on two previous occasions: Roma 1-0 Hajduk (2003/04 Fairs/Uefa Cup) and Bate Borisov 0-0 Bologna (2002 Intertoto competition).

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(0) draws(1) defeats(0)
SOCHAUX - Inter's Uefa Cup adventure began with a 2-2 draw away to a vivacious Sochaux side in Thursday's third round first leg.

After a bright start from the French and some flashes of brilliance from Andy van der Meyde, Christian Vieri nodded home his fourteenth goal of the season from the Dutchman's left-wing corner kick in the 8th minute.

Inter remained compact and dealt with Sochaux's creative wing play as Guy Lacombe's men enjoyed pockets of possession. Francesco Toldo was largely untroubled by long-range shots but showed all his agility with a terrific save from Zairi's ferocious, angled shot from the left on 13 minutes.

The Nerazzurri dominated the opening stages of the second half, then Sochaux equalised in the 59th minute when Frau controlled a left-wing cross, turned Adani then shot past Toldo. Inter's reaction was instant. Alvaro Recoba received from C.Zanetti, shrugged off a challenge from Daf then rammed a left-foot shot into the far corner.

But Sochaux didn't give up and got their reward with less than ten minutes remaining. Toldo fumbled a long-range shot, then Frau pounced and hit the post before slotting the rebound into an open net.

Match facts:

SOCHAUX 2-2 INTER (ht: 0-1)

Scorers: Vieri 8', Frau 59', 82', Recoba 61'

SOCHAUX: 1 Gnanhouan, 4 Flachez, 5 Monsoreau, 10 Oruma, 12 Isabey, 13 Frau, 17 Pedretti, 21 Diawara, 25 Mathieu, 27 Daf, 29 Zairi (8 Boudarene 77')
Subs not used: 16 Richert, 2 Tall, 3 Paisley, 14 Lonfat, 19 Raschke, 20 Diarra
Coach: Guy Lacombe

INTER: 1 Toldo, 2 Cordoba, 4 J. Zanetti, 6 C. Zanetti, 7 Van der Meyde (22 Okan 58'), 8 Lamouchi, 13 Helveg, 15 Adani, 20 Recoba (9 Cruz 90'+1'), 26 Pasquale, 32 Vieri
Subs not used: 12 Fontana, 18 Kily Gonzalez, 19 Karagounis, 29 Biava, 34 Nossa
Coach: Alberto Zaccheroni

Referee: Medina Cantalejo

Booked: J.Zanetti 35', C.Zanetti 43' (misses return leg), Oruma 53', Helveg 87', Adani 88'

starting lineups

Gnanhouan 1 Toldo
Flachez 2 Cordoba
Monsoreau 4 Zanetti
Oruma 6 Zanetti
Isabey 7 Van Der Meyde
Frau 8 Lamouchi
Pedretti 13 Helveg
Diawara 15 Adani
Mathieu 20 Recoba
Daf 26 Pasquale
Zairi 32 Vieri

substitutes

Richert 12 Fontana
Tall 9 Cruz
Paisley 19 Karagounis
Boudarene 18 Kily Gonzalez
Lonfat 22 Okan
Raschke 29 Biava
Diarra 34 Nossa