10 years ago…Sneijder’s goal in Moscow

MILAN – A venomous strike: it’s a typical phrase that goes hand in hand with reports of football matches. If you were to imagine a multimedia footballing dictionary, you’d certainly find the video of Wesley Sneijder’s free kick on 6 April 2010 at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow under the heading “venomous strike”. It happened in the sixth minute in the Champions League quarter-final second leg. In the first leg, the Nerazzurri’s push at San Siro had only led to a 1-0 victory thanks to Milito’s goal.

In Russia, exactly ten years ago today, with the match kicking off at 18:30 Italian time, Wesley Sneijder began the game with a powerful right-footed strike. Just outside the box, and a few yards to the right with Eto’o on the edge of the wall. The ball rose just a few inches off the ground, fizzed under Honda’s legs, under the wall, and into the goal as if by magic. Akinfeev was caught off guard and tried to outstretch his leg but it was too little.

Goal, 1-0 to Inter. A very heavy blow to the home side. That’s how the game in Moscow ended, thanks to some wonderful saves from both Julio Cesar and Akinfeev. It was a crucial win that meant Inter progressed to the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona. But that’s another story.

CSKA MOSCOW 0-1 INTER , 6 April 2010Scorers: 6' SneijderCSKA Moscow: 35 Akinfeev; 6 A. Berezutski, 24 V. Berezutski (14' 15 Odiah), 4 Ignashevich, 42 Schennikov; 2 Semberas, 11 Mamaev; 10 Dzagoev, 18 Honda (77' 25 Rahimic), 13 Gonzalez; 89 Necid (71' 20 Guilherme).Substitutes: 1 Chepchugov, 14 Nababkin, 23 Piliev, 26 Oliseh.Coach: Leonid Slutsky.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio, 25 Samuel, 4 Zanetti; 5 Stankovic, 19 Cambiasso; 27 Pandev (63' 26 Chivu), 10 Sneijder (86' 11 Muntari), 9 Eto'o; 22 Milito (74' 45 Balotelli).Substitutes: 21 Orlandoni, 2 Cordoba, 7 Quaresma, 23 Materazzi.Coach: José Mourinho.

Yellow Cards: Stankovic (I), Mamaev (C)Sent off: 49' Odiah for two yellows.

Referee: Stephane Lannoy (France)