Game Recap: Inter Milan Wins 2-1 Against Chelsea, Jose Mourinho Comes Out on Top

Jose Mourinho is the happier of the two managers as his Inter Milan team beat Chelsea at the San Siro.

Despite an away goal, Carlo Ancelotti will feel aggrieved that his side wasn't granted a first half penalty, which could have changed the course of the game.

The controversial moment came just before the half-time whistle was blown by Mejuto Gonzalez.

Walter Samuel—a player well-acquainted with controversy—looked to have tangled with Kalou before sliding in, missing the ball, and catching the striker more than once but the defender, and the home crowd, heaved a huge sigh of relief as the decision was given.

Despite controlling vast periods of the game, Chelsea failed to penetrate the opposition defence, with Lucio, the Brazilian centre back, registering a magnificent performance.

Amid a frantic start to the game, Diego Milito put Inter ahead after only three minutes, beating Petr Cech at his near post to add to his impressive tally of 18 goals this season.

Wesley Sneijder, who was at the heart of everything the home side created all game, laid the ball off with a deft touch on the edge of the area before the Argentine dragged the ball back, wrong-footing John Terry in the process, and powerfully fired home into the bottom left hand corner.

Milito used his speed and agility for a second time, on this occasion beating Carvalho, but rightly received a yellow card for diving, even though the defender foolishly made an attempt to trip the goal-scorer up.

Inter should have grabbed another goal, which could have decided the tie, but Samuel Eto’o, after receiving the ball eight yards from goal from Sneijder, found himself free from Terry and somehow contrived to miss the ball completely, letting it hit his standing foot before Chelsea cleared their lines.

Inter must have the most attacking defence in world football, with Zanetti, Maicon and Lucio constantly rampaging forward and causing the opposition problems.

Kalou exploited the gaps which were left time and again and his persistence paid off five minutes after half time as he equalised with a goal from outside the penalty area.

Ivanovic had done well to roam forward but, blocked by the Inter defence on the 18-yard line, he passed the ball back to the striker who hit the ball well. Julio Cesar, sporting two black eyes after a car crash on Sunday, will feel he should have dealt with the shot.

The teams were only on level terms for four minutes thanks to a beautifully struck shot by Esteban Cambiasso.

Sneijder, again creator, crossed the ball in from the left-hand side but the ball was headed out to the Argentine midfielder who’s first shot was blocked. However, no Chelsea player could do anything about his second, which flew into the bottom right-hand corner before Petr Cech could recover his position from the first shot.   

Mourinho then brought on Mario Balotelli, the mercurial Italian wonderkid, and Goran Pandev, as he attempted to kill the game off.

Chelsea’s most fluid move of the game came with 25 minutes left and fell to Frank Lampard.

It was the first time the visitors had pieced together consecutive penetrating passes and Anelka managed to cross the ball to Lampard on the penalty spot. He managed to connect with the ball; Julio Cesar was able to parry it out of danger.

Chelsea were forced to start with Florent Malouda as a makeshift left back due to Ashley Cole’s injury and Paulo Ferreira not being registered. Their injury concerns worsened as Petr Cech landed awkwardly after catching a cross and immediately signalled to the bench that he needed to come off.

Though initial fears were for the keeper’s cruciate ligaments, Chelsea will hope the injury isn’t too serious, but he looks certain to miss Sunday's clash with Manchester City.

The scoreline shows that Inter are ahead but, after this performance and with an away goal to take to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea will feel they have every chance to progress, ending Mourinho’s European Cup dream while perpetuating Chelsea’s own.