Inter slump to defeat in Russia

Posted Friday, November 23, 2012 by ESPN

Salomon Rondon scored two goals in the final three minutes to put the seal on a slightly flattering 3-0 victory for Rubin Kazan over Inter Milan in Russia.

Gokdeniz Karadeniz had put the home side in front in the first minute against an inexperienced Inter side, in a match to determine the group winners heading into the knockout stages.

Karadeniz tapped in the opener in bizarre fashion after Inter substitute Juan Jesus struck his own upright attempting to clear an Alan Kasaev cross, leaving the Rubin man with the simplest of chances.

Andrea Ranocchia fired over from 25 yards as Inter launched a swift response, while visiting keeper Vid Belec was also forced into action after 22 minutes when he plucked a Kasaev cross from the air.

Inter had marginally the better chances of a tame first period, with Andrea Romano hitting a weak shot from 25 yards over the bar in the 37th minute as the visitors tried to end the half on level terms.

Inter almost got their chance moments after the restart when Walter Gargano's long-range shot was tipped over the bar by Rubin keeper Sergei Ryzhikov.

The increasingly busy Ryzhikov caught a cross by Rodrigo Palacio in the 58th minute before the same player hit another chance wide, then Ryzhikov pulled off a superb stop to deny Alvaro Pereira.

With Inter increasingly pressing for an equaliser, Jonathan narrowly missed the target then Phillippe Coutinho saw his right-footed shot from just inside the box saved by the keeper.

Coutinho brought two more saves out of Ryzhikov in the last 10 minutes before Rubin effectively ended the contest when Rondon fired high into the roof of the net from 12 yards.

After Gargano had come close from long range, substitute Rondon grabbed his second after being played in by a Karadeniz ball from the right channel.

The young Inter side kept pressing until the end, with Palacio forcing the last action of the game with a 25-yard effort in injury time which was once again well caught by the impressive Ryzhikov.