17 Mar 2010

Chelsea out of Champions League

10:53 am on 17 March 2010

A 78th-minute goal by Samuel Eto'o and an accomplished defensive display gave Inter Milan a deserved 1-nil win at Chelsea that sends them into the Champions League quarter-finals 3-1 on aggregate.

The Italians, who had fallen at the first knockout stage for the last three seasons and were led by former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho, took the initiative from the start and Chelsea were never able to get control of the game.

Chelsea, who had reached the semi-finals in five of the last six years and last lost a home Champions League game four years ago, were desperately short of invention and barely troubled goalkeeper Julio Cesar as Mourinho enjoyed another night to remember at Stamford Bridge.

Meanwhile CSKA Moscow moved through to the last eight with a 2-1 win at Spanish side Sevilla.... winning 3-2 on aggregate.