VALENCIA...2 INTER MILAN...1(Agg 2-2: Inter win on away goals)Goalkeeper Francesco Toldo gave a virtuoso performance to help Inter Milan book their place in the last four of the Champions League after a 2-1 defeat to Valencia yesterday.
Inter qualify for the semi-final on the away goals rule after a 2-2 aggregate score, and could now meet city rivals AC Milan if they beat Ajax at home today.
After a busy start, which saw goals for each side in the first seven minutes, Toldo virtually took over proceedings to deny the hosts after a string of valiant efforts.
Valencia were on the back foot even before the match, having gone down 1-0 in Milan and with the added knowledge that they would be playing in front of Inter coach Hector Cuper, who took them to two successive Champions League finals.
When Christian Vieri fired home the opener after five minutes, the Spaniards must have felt a tad uncomfortable in their own Mestalla stadium.
Though Santiago Canizares pulled off a great one-handed save, Vieri netted the rebound before having to leave the field injured on the half-hour mark.
Valencia responded well, equalising two minutes later as John Carew outwitted two Inter defenders and fed Pablo Aimar who sidestepped his marker and slotted cooly past Toldo for his first goal since January 26.
Yet, for all their efforts, Valencia came up against a brick wall in the big Inter 'keeper.
Toldo was sublime, stopping a volley of shots throughout the half and showing supreme determination to block three rapid-fire shots in a busy 10-second period just before the interval.
Carew was inches away on numerous occasions, but ultimately found himself out of position in the box at crucial times.
After just five minutes of the second half, Baraja's well-aimed volley was saved by Toldo.
But, a minute later, Baraja was left unmarked in the box for a corner and he leapt to meet a dipping ball to finally beat the Italian keeper who could only watch as the ball bounced before flying high into his net.
Valencia produced a late surge, but Toldo was up to the challenge.
VALENCIA: Canizares, Reveillere, Carboni (Aurelio 79), Marchena, Ayala, Baraja, Sanchez, Angulo, Carew (Rufete 72), Aimar (Mista 83), Vicente. Subs Not Used: Palop, Pellegrino, Djukic, De los Santos. Booked: Baraja, Angulo, Marchena. Goals: Aimar 6, Baraja 51.
INTER MILAN: Toldo, Javier Zanetti, Pasquale (Adani 46), Materazzi, Cordoba, Gamarra, Di Biagio (Okan 74), Cristiano Zanetti, Dalmat, Crespo, Vieri (Recoba 31). Subs Not Used: Fontana, Martins, Vivas, Franchini. Booked: Vieri, Pasquale, Toldo, Di Biagio, Cristiano Zanetti. Goals: Vieri 4
Referee: Kim Nielsen (Denmark).
