By Anna Italia
Covering the UEFA Champions League from an Italian Perspective
  
           Anorthosis 3 - 3 FC Inter    
                               31' Cedric Bardon                  13' Mario Balotelli
                               45' Giorgos Panagi                 44' Marco Materazzi
                               50' Nikolaus Frousos              80' Julio Cruz

Substitutes: 43' Paulo Costa out, Giorgos Panagi in     58' Dejan Stankovic out, Julio Cruz in
                   63' N. Frousos out, Giannis Skopelitis in   58' Nicolas Burdisso out, Patrick Vieira in
                   78' Cedric Bardon out, Predrag Ocokoljic  58' Alessandro Mancini out, Maxwell in

UEFA Champions League Group Stage  B Updated November 3, 2008	Played	Points
FC Internazionale	4	8
Anorthosis	4	5
Panathinaikos	4	4
Bremen	4	3

 Inter secures the first position of the group with the draw because Panathinaikos defeat Bremen. 

Here is the starting eleven formation for Anorthosis by Coach TEmuri Ketsbaia:

Anorthosis Famagusta: 1 Beqaj; 28 Georgiou, 4 Katsavakis, 24 Costantinou, 12 Leiwakabessy; 27 Bardon, 6 Dobrasinovic, 20 Laban; 19 Taher, 11 Frousos, 10 Paulo Costa.

Here is the starting eleven formaiton for FC INTER by Coach Jose Mourinho:

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Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 16 Burdisso, 23 Materazzi, 4 Zanetti; 77 Quaresma, 19 Cambiasso, 5 Stankovic, 33 Mancini; 8 Ibrahimovic, 45 Balotelli.

Referee Laurent Duhamel whistles the beginning of the match.  Italian Soccer Serie A wishes Inter a victory!

Hey, guys, Inter means business and starts the match pressing Anorthosis.  Great!  Good to see Inter defender Marco Materazzi back in action too.

Wow, look who is scoring in the 13th minute!!!!  Young forward Mario Balotelli with a right footed shot from the left side of the box to the center of the goal blasts Anorthosis goalkeeper Beqaj!!!!  An amazing goal because first it was forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic to shoot from long range and Beqaj stops but could not hold the ball and Balotelli was around and you bet he profits this opportunity to score!  Great job! It's Balotelli's first goal in the Champions League.  Congrats Balotelli from Italian Soccer Serie A!
Anorthosis 0 - 1 FC Inter

What??!!! In the 29th minute, it seems Balotelli is injured and might not continue.  I hope nothing serious.  He is back.

Oh what a luck!  Anorthosis equalizes the score!  In the 31st minute, Anorthosis midfielder Cedric Bardon equalizes the score shooting from close range to the center of the goal blasting FC Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar!  Noooo... Come on Inter.
Anorthosis 1 - 1 FC Inter

In the 39th minute, Inter had the chance to score with forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic heading the ball from the center of the box... uffa.. misses the target!  Assist was by defender Maicon. Guys, I think Maicon-Ibra have great chemistly. In different matches Maicon is somehow involved with goals or assist with Ibrahimovic.

In the 43rd minute, Anorthosis makes a forced substitution by injury. Paulo Costa cannot continue for injury and Giorgos Panagi is in.

Ho, ho, ho!  Guess what guys!!!  In the 44th minute, Balotelli provides the assist to defender Marco Materazzi who was at the right place to head the ball from the center of the box to the center of the goal blasting Anorthosis goalkeeper Beqaj!!!!  Hey, I have to stand up and do a cheerleading dance for Materazzi!!!!!  Go Matrix, Go Matrix, Go Matrix!!
Anorthosis 1 - 2 FC Inter



Wow, I love this photo look how MATERAZZI is flying to head the ball!!!! Just love it!  Bravo Materazzi.



               
  Tuesday, November 4, 2008 UEFA Champions League Group Stage B - Inter defender Marco Materazzi Celebrates his goal.  Well done Matrix!!!  Forza, dai!

Click the video to watch the highlights of the UEFA Champions League Group Stage B Match Anorthosis - FC Inter.

Wow, this is not possible!  In the 45th minute, a corner for Anorthosis conceded by Javier Zanetti. Costly mistakes. No, just unbelievable. It is a goal for Anorthosis!  Following the corner Giorgos Panagi equalizes the score with a header from close range to the bottom right corner! 
Anorthosis 2 - 2 FC Inter

Inter dominating the match.  First half ends 45% ball possession Anorthosis and Inter 55% ball possession. What a match guys!

In the 50th minute, Anortosis takes the lead with Nikolaos Frousos right footed shot to the bottom left corner!  Well, now Inter must wake up and keep focused or we lose this match.
Anorthosis 3 - 2 FC Inter

In the 58th minute, FC Inter coach Jose Mourinho makes 3 substitutions. Boh? At the same time?  All three?
Dejan Stakovic out, Julio Cruz in
Nicolas Burdisso out, Patrick Vieira in
Alessandro Mancini out, Maxwell in

In the 76th minute, Ibrahimovic tries to equalize the scoare with a right footed shot but is saved by Anorthosis goalkeeper Beqaj! 

In the 80th minute, here it comes the "thank you moment" from Inter forward Julio Cruz to Mourinho for trusting him again!   Cruz gets an assist by Balotelli and heads the ball from the center of the box to the center of the goal blasting Anorthosis goalkeeper Beqaj!!!!!  way to go for the two rebels Balotelli and Cruz who were previously criticized by Mourinho for not following his tactical discipline. Now, they both playing excellent.
Anorthosis 3 - 3 FC Inter

A great match, agonizing but rewarding.  Why great? Well, despite Inter's mistakes and taking the lead twice, it was the time for Cruz to vindicate Inter's honor and not let go completely the 3 points. It was an away match.  Trying to be positive.  I am happy for Balotelli and for Julio Cruz.  Guys, Cruz was a substitute and again coming to his 'tradition' from the bench to save Inter.  Forza.  Good for Inter because Panathinaikos just defeated Werder Bremen, so it means Inter despite this draw is the leader of the group. 

True, we have not seen the "New Inter of Mourinho, yet" However, it is also true that despite mistakes Inter is leading the group. Therefore, I might say that the objective of hiring Mourinho to win the Champions League is partially working. Not much difference with the Inter of Roberto Mancini. Don't you think?

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE A MATCHDAY 4
Anorthosis - FC Internazionale (Inter)
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
GSP - Nicosia - Cyprus
11:45 a.m. USA Pacific Time


Referee: Laurent Duhamel (FRA)

Assistant referee: Stéphane Duhamel (FRA) Nicolas Pottier (FRA)

Fourth official: Damien Ledentu (FRA)

UEFA Delegate: Frantisek Laurinec (SVK)

UEFA Referee observer: Evzen Amler (CZE) 

Scorers: Balotelli 13, Bardon 31, Materazzi 44, Panagi 45+1, Frousos 50, Cruz 81.

Anorthosis Famagusta: 1 Beqaj; 28 Georgiou, 4 Katsavakis, 24 Constantinou, 12 Leiwakabessy; 27 Bardon (22 Ocokoljic 78), 6 Dobrasinovic, 20 Laban; 19 Taher, 11 Frousos (8 Skopelitis 63), 10 Paulo Costa (21 Panagi 43).

Subs not used: 30 Nagy, 9 Sosin, 16 Tsitaishvili, 23 Samaras.

Coach: Temuri Ketsbaia.

FC Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 16 Burdisso (14 Vieira 58), 23 Materazzi, 4 Zanetti; 77 Quaresma, 19 Cambiasso, 5 Stankovic (9 Cruz 58), 33 Mancini (6 Maxwell 58); 8 Ibrahimovic, 45 Balotelli.

Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 2 Cordoba, 39 Santon, 36 Bolzoni.

Coach: José Mourinho.

What do you think of the result? Was it fair, yes, no, and why?

Which player surprised you or disappointed you and why?






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