Late drama sinks Inter

INTER MILAN 2 MARSEILLE1, (2-2 on agg, Marseille win on away goals:A WILD finish at the San Siro saw Marseille knock Inter Milan out of the Champions League to reach the quarter-finals and pile even more pressure on the beleaguered coach Claudio Ranieri. Inter spurned glorious early chances but Diego Milito's scrappy 75th-minute goal appeared enough to force extra-time at least.

But Brandao then scored a goal from nothing in the second minute of stoppage time, and even though there was a further twist when Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda fouled Giampaolo Pazzini, earning a second yellow card and allowing the Italy international to give Inter victory on the night, Ranieri’s side went out on the away-goals rule.

After that sparkling start, that saw both sides missing some good chances, the game largely went stale as move after move at either end finished with a series of misplaced passes. Inter had failed to show enough to suggest they could turn it around as they went in for the half-time break.

And the narrative barely swung in their favour during a poor start to the second half with few chances for either side.

Their task became harder just before the hour mark when Wesley Sneijder was withdrawn with a shake of the head, apparently suffering some kind of injury, while Pazzini replaced the largely ineffective Diego Forlan.

The breakthrough finally came 15 minutes from time. Marseille failed to clear a corner and when the ball came back in to Milito he tucked it away from close range.

Extra-time looked certain, but Mandanda’s punt fell for Brandao, in somewhat unorthodox fashion off the striker’s back, but it was enough for him to break free and rifle the ball past Cesar.

That should have been that, but Mandanda then brought down Pazzini in the area, earning a second caution and a dismissal after a yellow card for timewasting. Pazzini lashed home the penalty, but it was the last kick of the game as Inter crashed out.

INTER MILAN:Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Nagatomo, Poli (Cambiasso 74), Stankovic, Zanetti, Sneijder (Obi 58), Milito, Forlan (Pazzini 58). Subs not used: Castellazzi, Ranocchia, Zarate, Faraoni. Booked: Zanetti, Samuel, Stankovic.

MARSEILLE:Mandanda, Azpilicueta, Diawara, N'Koulou, Morel, Diarra, M'bia Etoundi, Amalfitano, Valbuena (Cheyrou 77), Andre Ayew (Bracigliano 90), Remy (Brandao 88). Subs not used: Kabore, Traore, Jordan Ayew, Fanni. Sent Off: Mandanda (90). Booked: Diawara, Mandanda.

Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal).