Liverpool ensured they became the fourth English club to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League as they defeated 10-man Internazionale 1-0 at the Giuseppe Meazza.
Rafa Benitez’s side enjoyed the luxury of a two-goal lead from the first-leg at Anfield and a second half strike from star forward Fernando Torres in Italy ensured the Reds will be joining Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United in the quarter-finals of Europe’s premier cup competition.
Inter – who spent the weekend celebrating their centenary – were eager for another blast from the past as they looked to recreate their 1965 European Cup semi-final win over the Reds, but this season the Serie A leaders could not repeat their heroics as Nicolas Burdisso was sent off early in the second half to leave them facing an uphill task.
Julio Cruz was guilty of wasting Inter’s best chance of the first half when the Argentine forward opted to shoot when through on goal rather then squaring to the unmarked Dejan Stankovic.
Cruz was also denied by two fine first half blocks from Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina, but five minutes after the interval Burdisso – who had felled Dirk Kuyt in the first half – was handed his marching orders for a clumsy challenge on Lucas Leiva.
Torres then increased the home side’s misery on 63 minutes as the Spaniard deftly controlled a cross from Fabio Aurelio on the edge of the box before swivelling and rifling past Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar to seal a 3-0 aggregate victory.
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