Liverpool win comfortably over Inter; Bayern scramble to draw with Salzburg
Sports Desk, Feb 16 (EFE).- Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino led Liverpool 2-0 over Inter Milan in Wednesday’s first leg of the Champions League knockout stage clash, while Bayern Munich needed a goal in the final minute of regulation to draw 1-1 with Red Bull Salzburg.
The Reds and the Nerazzurri last faced other in 2008, in another Champions League tie, and the Premier League side prevailed on that occasion.
Liverpool had more of the ball in the first half at the San Siro, yet the closest either team came to scoring was a blast by the hosts’ Hakan Calhanoglu that bounced off the cross-bar in the 16th minute.
Inter seized the initiative in the second half and Edin Dzeko scored at the hour mark, but the offside flag was up and the contest remained deadlocked at 0-0.
The run of play was still in favor of the Nerazzurri when Liverpool won a corner in the 75th minute. Andy Robertson’s precision kick found Firmino and the Brazilian gave the visitors the lead.
Salah made it 2-0 eight minutes later, pouncing on a loose ball and wheeling to fire past Samir Handanovic.
The second leg is scheduled for March 8 at Anfield.
In Salzburg, Red Bull all but conceded possession to the mighty Bundesliga club that beat them by a cumulative score of 9-3 in their two group-stage matches in the 2020-2021 Champions League.
Goalkeeper Philipp Köhn turned aside a shot from Bayern’s Serge Gnabry in the 10th minute and the hosts grabbed the lead 10 minutes later with a goal by sub Chukwubuike Adamu, who replaced the injured Noah Okafor.
The traveling side improved after the break and Salzburg came under sustained pressure, especially from Kingsley Coman, who forced Köhn into action again and again.
As the game entered the final 10 minutes of regular time, a giveaway by Leroy Sane sent Red Bull’s Karim Adeyemi charging down the pitch. Bayern keeper Sven Ulreich made the save, but Adamu was there to gather in the rebound and only Benjamin Pavard’s block stopped him from doubling the advantage.
With seconds left in regulation, Coman bested Köhn to salvage a draw, leaving the tie to be settled next month in Munich. EFE
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