Finally Inter Milan enters Champions League final . Barcelona were looking to become the first side to overcome a two-goal deficit to reach the Champions League final, and their task was made easier in the 28th minute when Thiago Motta was shown a straight red card for a slight push to Sergi Busquets's face.
Gerard Pique showed exquisite poise to break the deadlock in the 84th minute, but Inter defended valiantly to preserve their aggregate lead and thwart the tournament favourites with a master-class of disciplined defending and dogged resistance to secure their first spot in a European Cup final for 38 years.
Substitute Bojan Krkic slammed an emphatic finish into the top corner of the net in stoppage-time, but the goal was disallowed for a handball in the build-up as the full-time whistle prompted a delirious reaction from Mourinho and the Inter players who charged onto the pitch in jubilation.
The Portuguese boss initially named the same line-up which prevailed 3-1 at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, before Goran Pandev was hastily withdrawn with defender Cristian Chivu stepping in just 10 minutes before kick-off.
Pep Guardiola adopted a three-man back line as a fervent atmosphere was generated inside the 96,000 capacity Nou Camp and the drama mounted as a result of his counterpart's late switch.
Motta was booked for hauling down former Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in just the 10th minute, and the Swede was furiously clutching his ripped shirt moments later after some over-zealous marking from Walter Samuel.
Xavi, who was closely marshalled by Wesley Sneijder throughout, finally evaded the Dutchman in the 20th minute, but Chivu made an impeccable intervention as he looked to slip a through ball in for Lionel Messi, who was lurking ominously beyond the Romanian. Four minutes later, the ever-sprightly Dani Alves hurtled down the right and whipped over a pinpoint delivery for Pedro, who met the ball on the volley, but could not direct his effort on target. The game then took a dramatic twist as Motta was ruthlessly dismissed by referee Frank De Bleeckere after thrusting his arm behind him to catch Busquets, who took a exaggerated tumble to ensure the Brazilian received his marching orders. It was a dubious decision to say the least.A flare-up ensued as the Inter players confronted Busquets over his theatrical response, and both coaches were involved as tempers were frayed and the match further grew in intensity. Messi looked to have finally shaken off the shackles placed on him by Mourinho's superbly-drilled defensive unit as he cut inside Samuel and fired an exquisite shot towards the far post just after the hour mark, but Julio Cesar somehow tipped the ball wide with a stunning save at full-length.
Barcelona grew increasingly frustrated as the first half petered out with Inter absorbing wave after wave of pressure from the hosts, and Samuel made a courageous block to deny Ibrahimovic from close range as an eventual opening looked to have materialised.
Inter made a belated entrance after the break to leave their hosts waiting out on the field, and Guardiola made the only change as Maxwell replaced Gabriel Milito.
Barcelona's build-up play continued to be patient as the second half unfolded, and Inter were more than happy to absorb the pressure and defend stubbornly, deep inside their own half.
The hosts appealed vehemently for a penalty on the hour mark, but there was again minimal contact as Esteban Cambiasso tussled away furiously with Ibrahimovic, who was promptly replaced by Bojan. Barcelona's pressure was incessant as the second half wore on, but substitute Bojan squandered a glorious opportunity in the 82nd minute to reduce the deficit as he headed wide from close-range after meeting Messi's pinpoint cross from out on the left. In a desperate late bid to break the deadlock, Guardiola employed defender Pique as an auxiliary striker, and the move paid off six minutes from time: the Spaniard showed sublime poise to swivel inside the diving Lucio and Cesar, then planted a cool finish into the empty net to send the Nou Camp into delirium. The hosts piled forward in their droves in an enthralling finale, and substitute Bojan slammed an emphatic finish into the top corner of the net, only for referee Bleeckere to disallow the strike due to an inadvertent handball by Yaya Toure in the build-up. Guardiola called for a 'festival of football' before the match, but it was a clinical and professional performance which ensured that Mourinho's Inter prevailed over the two dramatic legs to set up a clash with Bayern Munich in their first European Cup final since 1972.
Watch The Champions Leauge Anthum
For maore details visit:-http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com
Gerard Pique showed exquisite poise to break the deadlock in the 84th minute, but Inter defended valiantly to preserve their aggregate lead and thwart the tournament favourites with a master-class of disciplined defending and dogged resistance to secure their first spot in a European Cup final for 38 years.
Substitute Bojan Krkic slammed an emphatic finish into the top corner of the net in stoppage-time, but the goal was disallowed for a handball in the build-up as the full-time whistle prompted a delirious reaction from Mourinho and the Inter players who charged onto the pitch in jubilation.
The Portuguese boss initially named the same line-up which prevailed 3-1 at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, before Goran Pandev was hastily withdrawn with defender Cristian Chivu stepping in just 10 minutes before kick-off.
Pep Guardiola adopted a three-man back line as a fervent atmosphere was generated inside the 96,000 capacity Nou Camp and the drama mounted as a result of his counterpart's late switch.
Motta was booked for hauling down former Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in just the 10th minute, and the Swede was furiously clutching his ripped shirt moments later after some over-zealous marking from Walter Samuel.
Xavi, who was closely marshalled by Wesley Sneijder throughout, finally evaded the Dutchman in the 20th minute, but Chivu made an impeccable intervention as he looked to slip a through ball in for Lionel Messi, who was lurking ominously beyond the Romanian. Four minutes later, the ever-sprightly Dani Alves hurtled down the right and whipped over a pinpoint delivery for Pedro, who met the ball on the volley, but could not direct his effort on target. The game then took a dramatic twist as Motta was ruthlessly dismissed by referee Frank De Bleeckere after thrusting his arm behind him to catch Busquets, who took a exaggerated tumble to ensure the Brazilian received his marching orders. It was a dubious decision to say the least.A flare-up ensued as the Inter players confronted Busquets over his theatrical response, and both coaches were involved as tempers were frayed and the match further grew in intensity. Messi looked to have finally shaken off the shackles placed on him by Mourinho's superbly-drilled defensive unit as he cut inside Samuel and fired an exquisite shot towards the far post just after the hour mark, but Julio Cesar somehow tipped the ball wide with a stunning save at full-length.
Barcelona grew increasingly frustrated as the first half petered out with Inter absorbing wave after wave of pressure from the hosts, and Samuel made a courageous block to deny Ibrahimovic from close range as an eventual opening looked to have materialised.
Inter made a belated entrance after the break to leave their hosts waiting out on the field, and Guardiola made the only change as Maxwell replaced Gabriel Milito.
Barcelona's build-up play continued to be patient as the second half unfolded, and Inter were more than happy to absorb the pressure and defend stubbornly, deep inside their own half.
The hosts appealed vehemently for a penalty on the hour mark, but there was again minimal contact as Esteban Cambiasso tussled away furiously with Ibrahimovic, who was promptly replaced by Bojan. Barcelona's pressure was incessant as the second half wore on, but substitute Bojan squandered a glorious opportunity in the 82nd minute to reduce the deficit as he headed wide from close-range after meeting Messi's pinpoint cross from out on the left. In a desperate late bid to break the deadlock, Guardiola employed defender Pique as an auxiliary striker, and the move paid off six minutes from time: the Spaniard showed sublime poise to swivel inside the diving Lucio and Cesar, then planted a cool finish into the empty net to send the Nou Camp into delirium. The hosts piled forward in their droves in an enthralling finale, and substitute Bojan slammed an emphatic finish into the top corner of the net, only for referee Bleeckere to disallow the strike due to an inadvertent handball by Yaya Toure in the build-up. Guardiola called for a 'festival of football' before the match, but it was a clinical and professional performance which ensured that Mourinho's Inter prevailed over the two dramatic legs to set up a clash with Bayern Munich in their first European Cup final since 1972.
Watch The Champions Leauge Anthum
For maore details visit:-http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com
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