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Inter Milan beat Porto 3-1
Brazilian striker Adriano scored a stunning hat-trick as Inter Milan beat holders Porto 3-1 in their Champions League first knockout round second leg match to dump them out of the competition and become the third Italian team to reach the quarter-finals.
Defeat - 4-2 on aggregate - meant FC Porto became the first Champions League holders to fail to make the quarter-finals. A win that was far less comfortable than the score suggested took Inter through to the last eight 3-2 on aggregate, having drawn 1-1 in Portugal three weeks ago. Adriano appeared to have put Inter in total control with a deflected shot and a cool finish giving the hosts a two-goal lead, but a scrambled effort from Porto's veteran defender Jorge Costa ensured a nail-biting climax. However, Adriano had the final word, settling Inter's jangling nerves four minutes from time with a superb solo effort. By joining Serie A rivals Juventus and AC Milan in the last eight, Inter have kept their season alive as they trail joint league leaders AC Milan and Juve by 16 points and with 10 games left they have practically no chance of closing the gap. Victory against Porto maintained Inter's unbeaten home record against Portuguese clubs in Europe with seven wins and a draw. Inter coach Roberto Mancini was forced to reshuffle his defence with left-back Giuseppe Favalli and centre-back Ivan Cordoba both suspended. Jose Ze Maria came in for Favalli and Inter captain Javier Zanetti switched to the left-hand side to accomodate the Brazilian right-back. Veteran Serbian Sinisa Mihajlovic was a straight swap for Cordoba. Inter's Argentine striker Julio Cruz partnered Adriano up front as Christian Vieri and Obafemi Martins were both still feeling minor injuries. Inter, winners of the old European Cup in 1964 and 1965, were handed the perfect start in the sixth minute when a misplaced Porto pass went straight to the dangerous feet of the predatory Adriano. The burly Brazil international burst into the box before drilling an angled shot that deflected heavily off Pedro Emanuel and looped over Victor Baia and into the net. The goal stirred the visitors into life and they tested Francesco Toldo for the first time in the 27th minute. Greek Euro 2004 winner Georgios Seitaridis drove a ball into Inter's penalty area and Benni McCarthy instinctively stuck out a boot, but the South African's effort lacked the power to trouble the Inter keeper. Inter were happy to sit back and try to pick Porto off on the break, but their tactic nearly cost them dear seven minutes after the break when substitute Quaresma took advantage of a static defence and curled a shot narrowly wide of the post. McCarthy drove a free-kick straight at Toldo as the Portuguese pressed forward in search of a vital away goal, before Inter spurned a golden opportunity to kill off the tie. Juan Sebastian Veron was played through on goal by Cruz and with Baia stranded all he had to do was roll the ball across goal for Adriano, but the Argentine midfielder's pass went to a Portuguese defender. Adriano then doubled his tally in the 63rd minute, springing the offside trap to collect Cruz's pass before stabbing the ball past Baia with his trusty left boot. After Seitaridis hit the post with a speculative long-range shot, Costa hauled Porto back into the match, prodding home from a yard out after Toldo had failed to collect a corner. Pedro Emanuel's goalline clearance prevented Javier Zanetti from restoring Inter's two-goal cushion before Adriano carved his way into the box and beat Baia with a left-footed curler.
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