Champions League round-up: Cruz's header secures point for stumbling Inter

Will Hawkes
Wednesday 05 November 2008 01:00 GMT
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(GETTY IMAGES)

Jose Mourinho, Internazionale's manager, has striker Julio Cruz to thank after the striker's goal ensured that the club's recent stutter did not take a considerable turn for the worse against Anorthosis Famagusta last night. Cruz headed in 10 minutes from the end to ensure a 3-3 draw in the Group B encounter.

A win would have put the Serie A champions through to the last 16, but instead they contrived to present the hosts with all three goals. Mario Balotelli and Marco Materazzi twice put Inter ahead in the first half, but poor headers from Nicolas Burdisso and Esteban Cambiasso allowed Cedric Bardon and Georgios Panagi to twice equalise.

Argentina defender Burdisso then got in another muddle with a header and Nikolaos Frousos fired home five minutes after the break before Inter, who had chances to win, levelled.

Barcelona, meanwhile, were surprisingly held at home in Group C despite Lionel's Messi's 62nd-minute goal. The Swiss side Basle equalised late on through Eren Derdiyok. Barcelona are still through to the last 16, though, as are Sporting Lisbon, who beat Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 in the same group. Brazilian striker Derlei scored for the Portuguese side.

Bordeaux boosted their qualifying hopes with a 2-1 victory at CFR Cluj. They and Roma now share second place in Group A, one point behind the leaders, Chelsea.

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