Cruz double revives Inter hopes

Two goals in the first nine minutes from Julio Cruz helped FC Internazionale Milano break their 2006/07 UEFA Champions League duck as the Serie A leaders earned a 2-1 win against FC Spartak Moskva.

Attacking display
In a display rich with attacking verve, and influenced notably by the creative instincts of the recalled Alvaro Recoba in the first half, Roberto Mancini's side earned a precious first victory of the campaign which lifts them to third place in Group B on three points and breathes new life into their European challenge.

Early strike
Inter took the lead on 60 seconds with Patrick Vieira, returning from suspension, instrumental in the goal. After earning a free-kick following a clumsy foul by Mozart in his own half, Vieira cushioned Recoba's free-kick into the path of Cruz and the Argentinian forward, making his first start of the season, fired an unstoppable left-footed shot in off the crossbar from ten metres.

Cruz double
In the build-up to the match, much had been made of Inter's failure to score in the competition but the introduction of Recoba for his first club appearance of 2006/07 underlined that the home team, in desperate need of points, were going to take the attacking initiative. The Uruguayan's inclusion paid off in the ninth minute when he picked out his strike partner from the left edge of the area and Cruz headed in at the far post for his second goal.

Exciting contest
In an open game the visitors were gifted the opportunity to reduce the arrears when a defensive mix-up enabled Denis Boyarintsev to chase into the box. With only Júlio César to beat, however, the midfielder side-footed over the bar. Inter's insistence on attacking football provided Spartak with further counterattacking chances. Vladimir Bystrov came close on 35 minutes with a clever diagonal back-flick from Roman Pavlyuchenko's cross, while Mozart's curler three minutes later brought a spectacular save from his compatriot Júlio César.

Russian reply

Inter hang on
Spartak failed to capitalise on their lifeline, although both sides could have scored again in the closing stages. Cruz was denied a hat-trick by Wojciech Kowalewski while the excellent Stanković had a goal ruled out for a foul. The same player drove narrowly wide with five minutes remaining, yet Inter were hanging on by the end as Quincy Owusu-Abeyie set up Boyarintsev but Júlio César made the save.