Inter Milan pulled clear in Group B thanks to Adriano's goal against Anorthosis Famagusta.
Jose Mourinho's side in strong position to qualify for next stage
Inter Milan pulled three points clear at the top of UEFA Champions League Group B thanks to Adriano's goal against Anorthosis Famagusta in the San Siro.
The home side dominated against the Cypriot outfit but had to wait until a minute before half-time to break through.
Jose Mourinho's side should have taken the lead in the third minute when Maicon had a free header from a corner but put his effort wide from close range.
Soon afterwards, Traianos Dellas forced Francesco Toldo into a diving save to his left after a free-kick, while Dejan Stankovic was not far off with a long-range effort which just went over the bar for the hosts.
Sulley Muntari then had a good effort saved by keeper Arjan Beqaj's legs on ten minutes, while Adriano put a powerful effort from the edge of the box just wide of the visitor's left post and again shot wide soon afterwards.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic then did well to create some space for himself on the edge of the box but he shot straight at Beqaj.
Penalty shout
Late in the first half, Alessandro Mancini's cross from the right hit Andreas Constantinou's arm in the box but Inter received no reward.
But the hosts finally got the break through on 44 minutes when Maicon crossed from the right and Adriano headed home.
Ivan Ramiro Cordoba could have doubled the lead some afterwards but headed just wide at the far post after a corner from the left.
In the second period, the game was more open and the visitors had a gilt-edged chance to equalise soon after the re-start.
The opportunity came when Bortolini Savio put in a dangerous free-kick from the left which found Nikos Katsabakis at the far post but he headed wide when unchallenged with just the keeper to beat.
The hosts almost made them pay on 48 minutes when Mancini crossed from the right but Muntari headed over from eight yards in front of goal.
Powerful cross
Three minutes later, Ibrahimovic put in a low powerful cross from the left which Beqaj did well to push out.
The striker was then played in one-on-one with the keeper on 67 minutes but put his right-footed flick from the left past the far post.
Late on, substitute Ricardo Julio Cruz shot just wide for the hosts with a low right footed effort from the edge of the box.
This victory - coupled with the 2-2 draw in Greece between Panathinaikos and Werder Bremen - leaves the Italian giants in a strong position to qualify from Group B ahead of their trip to Cyprus in a fortnight's time.
| Internazionale |
Team Statistics |
Anorthosis Famagusta |
| 1 |
Goals |
0 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 4 |
Shots on Target |
1 |
| 12 |
Shots off Target |
5 |
| 8 |
Blocked Shots |
4 |
| 13 |
Corners |
2 |
| 22 |
Fouls |
14 |
| 3 |
Offsides |
8 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 86.3 |
Passing Success |
73 |
| 16 |
Tackles |
15 |
| 75 |
Tackles Success |
73.3 |
| 63.5 |
Possession |
36.5 |
| 57.2 |
Territorial Advantage |
42.8 |
|
