Super Mario snatches victory

MARIO GOMEZ gained a small measure of revenge for Bayern Munich as his late winner earned the German side a valuable Champions League win against Inter Milan.

Gomez netted from close range after Julio Cesar failed to hold Arjen Robben’s shot late on, giving Bayern a first-leg advantage against the side who beat them in last season’s final.

Esteban Cambiasso missed the best chances for Inter, who also saw striker Samuel Eto’o draw a blank in front of goal as Bayern goalkeeper Thomas Kraft pulled off several saves.

Inter had the best of the early exchanges. Eto’o went down under a challenge from Anatoliy Tymoschuk inside the area, but Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai was not interested in any penalty claims.

The visitors had an escape when Eto’o worked the ball into the right side of the area and threaded it through the defence for an unmarked Cambiasso, but his shot from close range was straight at Kraft.

Robben then crossed the ball in but Franck Ribery’s header hit the bar.

Eto’o caused Kraft an anxious moment when he charged down a pass across the Bayern defence but the goalkeeper was able to gather the ball on his line.

Kraft got down well to his left to keep out a low shot from Eto’o and Sneijder wasted a chance just before half-time as he shot wide.

Maicon should have done better when a pass from Stankovic played him in on the right side of the area but he also missed the target as the sides entered the break goalless.

Muller wasted a fine chance early in the second half when he got on the end of Robben’s flighted ball across the box but glanced his header across goal.

Robben struck the outside of the post with a rising shot after he had exchanged passes with Ribery and run wide of the Inter defence to give himself an opening.

Cambiasso then missed the best chance so far when he pounced on the rebound after Kraft had beaten away Eto’o’s shot, but the midfielder fired the ball high over the bar.

Bayern went close just before the hour when Robben cut in from the right but his shot was also over the top.

Bayern had a lucky escape near the end when Thiago Motta was left unmarked but headed straight at Kraft.

Inter paid for those wasted chances when Bayern shocked the home crowd with a late winner.

Julio Cesar could not hold Robben’s shot and Gomez was first to the loose ball to net the rebound.

INTER: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Ranocchia (Kharja 73), Lucio, Chivu, Zanetti, Cambiasso, Motta, Sneijder, Stankovic, Eto’o.

BAYERN: Kraft, Lahm, Tymoschuk, Badstuber, Pranjic (Breno 38), Schweinsteiger, Gustavo, Robben, Muller, Ribery, Gomez.

Ref: Viktor Kassai (Hungary).