Champions League: Inter Milan vs. Liverpool (Your Running Commentary)
The final place in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals will be booked today as Inter Milan attempts to erase Liverpool's 2-0 first-leg lead in today's match-up at the San Siro.
The task is simple, though extremely difficult. Inter must beat Liverpool by three goals to win the series, or must win today's match 2-0 to force a 30-minute overtime and penalty kicks if necessary.
You know the drill. The match is airing on ESPN2 as well as ESPN360.com. If you are online and watching the match please feel free to post your thoughts on the match (and descriptions of the action) in the comments section below.
Enjoy the match.
Ives Galarcep is an American soccer columnist for ESPNsoccernet.com and creator of SoccerByIves.net.
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It's into the 10th minute without a good scoring chance.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | March 11, 2008 at 03:55 PM
The other downside of squad rotation - it makes it damn hard for me to keep track of who is playing, and what good or bad performances they've put in.
Right now, I'm trying to remember if I like Lucas, the Brazilian kid Liverpool picked up last year. Wikipedia swears he's played 20+ games, but I can't remember him in a single one.
All I remember is thinking it strange for Brazilian to play at Liverpool, and hearing his injury a reason Brazil wasn't fully up to snuff at the U-20 WC last year.
Posted by: eric | March 11, 2008 at 03:58 PM
Babel gets a yellow for an infraction while in the wall during an Inter free kick, but Inter blasts the 2nd chance ovet the goal.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | March 11, 2008 at 03:58 PM
Inter hasn't seemed like a team that's down 2-0 yet.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | March 11, 2008 at 04:12 PM
Bit better from Liverpool, I had gotten *gasp* absorbed in work and forgot the game is on.
Here's hoping that a "tense European Night (tm)" doesn't equal crap soccer.
Posted by: eric | March 11, 2008 at 04:12 PM
Inter was far too nonchalant in and around their own penalty area, gave the ball away, though Torres should have dhot sooner.
As I was typing this, Cruz was by himself on the left side of the penalty area and pushed the ball wide.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | March 11, 2008 at 04:15 PM
*dhot=shot
Posted by: ManicMessiah | March 11, 2008 at 04:16 PM
It was officially end to end action for a minute there, hopefully we'll have more of the same?
I hope Suazo comes on while the game is still relevant.
Also, just grocked that Figo is on the bench, not the field. Inter need goals, I wonder what they do if it's 0 - 0 at the half still.
Posted by: eric | March 11, 2008 at 04:18 PM
Viera looks a step slow and the ref looks 20 lbs overweight.
Predictions
Zlatan will score the first goal.
Babel will be sent off for a 2nd caution.
Posted by: ahelms | March 11, 2008 at 04:26 PM
Reina made a good save on a heel flick from Cruz, though the announcer made more out of it than it was.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | March 11, 2008 at 04:30 PM
Ugh! That was a nasty close up of the ref's sweaty double chin. I am scarred by that one, but thankful (for once) I DON'T have HD
Posted by: eric | March 11, 2008 at 04:31 PM
0-0 at the half, and Inter needs to start worrying at this point.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | March 11, 2008 at 04:33 PM
Wew! Torres wishes he had that last run back as the half time whistle blows. I'll take him for the first goal.
Posted by: eric | March 11, 2008 at 04:34 PM
Predictions for the 2nd Half:
Cruz crumples to the turf 18 more times, never drawing a penalty.
Every single whiney Inter player is seen "praying" to the referee for a call that, thankfully, never comes.
The Inter fans continue whistling (booing) each time L'pool touches the ball, stopping only at match-end when they get distracted by stabbing L'pool supporters.
Posted by: FCZ | March 11, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Nice. What's the over on stabbings? And is it more or less than the number of dives in search of a penalty?
Posted by: eric | March 11, 2008 at 04:45 PM
Anyone else think Liverpool will win Skrtels a Prem star in the making
Posted by: ejs | March 11, 2008 at 04:49 PM
How does Inter not make any changes at the half? It's not like they created a boatload of chances in the first half.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | March 11, 2008 at 04:51 PM
Another Inter player is sent off. A harsh decision, especially considering the harsh sending off last match.
The ref has basically killed this game off.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | March 11, 2008 at 04:53 PM
Thanks for going out on a limb FCZ.
It was looking like a difficult task for Inter with 11 men; I don't think they can win 2-0 or better with 10.
Posted by: ahelms | March 11, 2008 at 04:54 PM
Refs > Inter
Posted by: Tavis | March 11, 2008 at 04:54 PM
It was definitely a dumb challenge to try with a yellow already. If it wasn't his 2nd, I don't think it's that controversial.
Disappointed to see no changes, Inter are showing no urgency, like this is a first leg and they aren't down 2 goals
Posted by: eric | March 11, 2008 at 04:57 PM
I'm watching the match on Shanghai Sports on TVU. The only word of the Chinese commentary I've understood the entire match is the name "Cambiasso" over and over again. Either the Chinese really love Esteban Cambiasso or the other 21 names on the pitch don't translate very well into Mandarin.
Posted by: Jamie Z. | March 11, 2008 at 04:58 PM
Ibrahimovic 0-2
Posted by: Tavis | March 11, 2008 at 05:00 PM
Man of the Match so far?
Posted by: adiddy | March 11, 2008 at 05:03 PM
Mascherano looks good. Smart move by Rafa, removing Babel.
Mancini has apparently frozen
Posted by: ahelms | March 11, 2008 at 05:04 PM
Can someone check Inter's bench to see if the manger is still awake.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | March 11, 2008 at 05:04 PM
Torres scores, 1-0 Liverpool, game even more finished than it was.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | March 11, 2008 at 05:05 PM
It's all over except for the stabbing. Oh, and the whining.
Posted by: FCZ | March 11, 2008 at 05:06 PM
Game over. 4 English teams in the final 8. I want to shoot myself.
Posted by: Tavis | March 11, 2008 at 05:06 PM
I retract the question. Torres is clearly the MOM.
Posted by: adiddy | March 11, 2008 at 05:06 PM
Wait - we shook on Torres scoring 1st, right?
Posted by: eric | March 11, 2008 at 05:06 PM
Good call eric. I owe you a coke.
Posted by: ahelms | March 11, 2008 at 05:08 PM
I think the sending off was understandable, dumb challenge. I'm really unhappy with Inter, its just lame that they're celebrating yellow cards and begging for yellow cards. They should look into putting together some quality movement and shots on goal.
Posted by: John | March 11, 2008 at 05:08 PM
Betting on a 3 to 1 underdog - Go me!
Posted by: ejs | March 11, 2008 at 05:09 PM
I guess I don't watch enough Serie A. The amount of melodrama on display here is startling.
Posted by: adiddy | March 11, 2008 at 05:10 PM
This is dumb
Posted by: Joamiq | March 11, 2008 at 05:12 PM
ahelms - you're a gentleman and a scholar. I liked how pissed he looked after screwing up the 1 v 1 (albeit far from goal) at the end of the 1st half.
I'm not too bummed about the whole 4 English teams thing, it's not like I want to see more of Inter. It looks like the manager is trying to keep the score down and save face, rather than playing to win (and thus possibly lose worse).
Posted by: eric | March 11, 2008 at 05:12 PM
adiddy: Yeah, Serie A is pretty much shite. When the clubs aren't fixing matches, they've got their players taking acting lessons.
I could not be more pleased both 'Milans' won't be pooping on perfectly good UEFA football for the rest of the year.
Posted by: FCZ | March 11, 2008 at 05:16 PM
i'm not unhappy with the 4 english teams, i'd rather watch them than Inter in this competition. All they've done tonight is dive, whine, beg for yellow cards, and show a pair of greedy strikers(all they had to do was center 2 paasses, and they had 2 goals). I say good riddance, and thanks for a couple of poor performances, and some tips on how not to play the sport we all love.
Posted by: John | March 11, 2008 at 05:16 PM
If you heard that this match had 8 yellows and a red and didn't see it, you'd think it was much more physical and contentious than this has been.
Posted by: adiddy | March 11, 2008 at 05:17 PM
i'm not unhappy with the 4 english teams, i'd rather watch them than Inter in this competition. All they've done tonight is dive, whine, beg for yellow cards, and show a pair of greedy strikers(all they had to do was center 2 paasses, and they had 2 goals). I say good riddance, and thanks for a couple of poor performances, and some tips on how not to play the sport we all love.
Posted by: John | March 11, 2008 at 05:18 PM
sorry for the double post, silly computer
Posted by: John | March 11, 2008 at 05:19 PM
Ibrahimovic was terrible. And selfish.
Posted by: adiddy | March 11, 2008 at 05:22 PM
Zlatan and his woeful facial hair go to the bench
Posted by: eric | March 11, 2008 at 05:23 PM
I love hearing the crowd whine just as much, as Liverpool knock in around for a full 2 minutes
Did they really leave Figo on the bench the whole game? I don't think he's a well rounded player anymore, but if not scoring is just as bad as giving up goals, I'm sure as hell going to put him out there. Especially how bad Inter was flaying their free kicks over and off the screen.
Posted by: eric | March 11, 2008 at 05:30 PM
Have they mentioned that Gerrard is missing the QF? I missed the beginning of the 2nd half but saw this on the UEFA tracker when Derek and Tommy were claiming it was Chivu's 2nd yellow.
47 Gerrard (Liverpool) is booked. Gerrard's caution means the Liverpool captain will miss the first leg of the quarter-final should the Premier League side progress.
Posted by: ahelms | March 11, 2008 at 05:41 PM
the first leg of the QF, I mean
Posted by: ahelms | March 11, 2008 at 05:41 PM
4 English teams in the quarters out of 4. do you think they are the best leauge in europe?
Posted by: Jon | March 12, 2008 at 06:43 PM