Gomez gives Bayern advantage

Mario Gomez
12 April 2012

Mario Gomez gained a small measure of revenge for Bayern Munich as his late winner earned the German side a valuable 1-0 Champions League win against Inter Milan.

Gomez netted from close range after Julio Cesar failed to hold Arjen Robben's shot late on, giving Bayern a first-leg advantage against the side who beat them in last season's final.

Esteban Cambiasso missed the best chances for Inter, who also saw striker Samuel Eto'o draw a blank in front of goal as Bayern goalkeeper Thomas Kraft pulled off several saves.

It took more than 10 minutes for Bayern to get into the game, but as Thomas Muller forced his way into the area he was crowded off the ball. Julio Cesar was lucky when he got down late to a left-footed shot from 30 yards out by Luiz Gustavo, which went just wide of the goalkeeper's right-hand post.

But the visitors had an escape when Eto'o worked the ball into the right side of the area and threaded it through the defence for an unmarked Cambiasso, but his shot from close range was straight at Kraft who saved with his legs.

Robben then crossed the ball in but Franck Ribery's header hit the top of the bar. At the other end, Kraft got down well to his left to keep out a low shot from Eto'o and Wesley Sneijder wasted a chance just before half-time as he shot well wide.

Muller wasted a fine chance early in the second half when he got on the end of Robben's flighted ball across the Inter box but glanced his header across goal. Robben also struck the outside of the post with a rising shot after he had exchanged passes with Ribery and run wide of the Inter defence to give himself an opening.

Cambiasso then missed the best chance so far when he pounced on the rebound after Kraft had beaten away Eto'o's shot, but the midfielder fired the ball high over the bar.

Bayern had a lucky escape near the end when Thiago Motta was left unmarked at a corner from Sneijder but he headed straight at Kraft. Eto'o was also denied when his shot from the edge of the area through a crowd of players was deflected wide for a corner.

And Inter paid for those wasted chances when Bayern shocked the home crowd with a late winner. Julio Cesar could not hold Robben's shot and Gomez was first to the loose ball to net the rebound.

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