Inter pip Moscow 3-2 in thrilling win

Mauro Zarate's 79th minute goal hands Claudio Ranieri's men 3-2 win over CSKA Moscow

Inter pip Moscow 3-2 in thrilling win

Mauro Zarate's 79th minute goal hands Claudio Ranieri's men 3-2 win over CSKA Moscow

Inter Milan's Giampaolo Pazzini (right) celebrates a goal with teammate
Yuto Nagatomo during last night's UEFA Champions match away at CSKA
Moscow. Inter won 3-2. Pic/AFP

Mauro Zarate was the Inter hero, firing his side back into the lead after Lucio and Giampaolo Pazzini's first-half strikes were cancelled out by goals from Alan Dzagoev and Vagner Love. Lucio, who had looked distinctly disinterested under Gain Piero Gasperini, picked up where he'd left off at Bologna, scoring his second goal in two games to give his side a sixth-minute lead.

CSKA Moscow goalkeeper Vladimir Gabulov failed to claim Ricardo Alvarez's floated inswinging corner, leaving Lucio with an empty goal to volley into.u00a0It was Pazzini who fired his side into an important two-goal lead in the 23rd minute when he tapped home from close range after a superb run and cross by Yuto Nagatomo, who had expertly nutmegged Aleksei Berezutski on his way to the byeline.

Alan Dzagoev's set piece proved to be Inter's undoing, but this time the Russia international took the direct route to goal, curling a 25 yard free-kick. The goal arrived in the third minute of first-half stoppage. After a concerted period of pressure, Vagner Love eventually levelled the scores in the 77th minute after waltzing inside Javier Zanetti and Lucio before rifling past Julio Cesar.

But no sooner had they restored parity than they were forced behind again less than 60 seconds later when Zarate latched onto an Esteban Cambiasso pass and drilled low into the net to snatch the win.
Matchday 3 sees the Italians travel to France to face Ligue 1 champions Lille.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels