Inter Milan knock out Bayern with last-gasp goal

Bayern Munich's Mario Gomez (front) scores a goal against Inter Milan's goalkeeper Julio Cesar during their second leg round of sixteen Champions League soccer match in Munich March 15, 2011.


MUNICH - Holders Inter Milan stunned Bayern Munich with an 88th-minute goal from Goran Pandev to win 3-2 on Tuesday to scrape through to the Champions League quarter-finals on the away goals rule.

Inter, who also beat Bayern in last year's final, got off to a dream start with a goal from Samuel Eto'o on four minutes, cancelling out the German team's 1-0 win in Italy in the first leg last month.

The Bavarians levelled through Mario Gomez and took a well-deserved lead thanks to Thomas Mueller on 31 minutes before missing several good chances.

Inter equalised through Dutchman Wesley Sneijder just past the hour and grabbed the winner through Pandev who fired in left-footed from just inside the box with two minutes to go.

Earlier, the holders went ahead when Eto'o narrowly beat the offside trap to slot his eighth goal of this season's competition.

Inter then started to concede too much space in midfield and Gomez also struck his eighth Champions League goal of the season after a terrible mistake by goalkeeper Julio Cesar who spilled a straight-forward shot at the striker's feet.

The home team were on target again in the 31st minute when Mueller took advantage of a blunder from Inter defender Thiago Motta.

Bayern missed two good chances before halftime when Franck Ribery's chip went wide and Gomez's effort rolled agonisingly along the line before Andrea Ranocchia cleared off the post.

Sneijder levelled for the Italians with a fierce drive into the bottom corner of the net in the 63rd minute, setting the stage for Pandev to steal the late glory after an entertaining end-to-end match.

Inter Milan's goalkeeper Julio Cesar (C) celebrates with teammates after the second leg round of sixteen Champions League soccer match against Bayern Munich in Munich March 15, 2011.

Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger (R) scuffles with an unidentified Inter Milan physio after their Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match in Munich March 15, 2011.

Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal gestures during their Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match against Inter Milan in Munich March 15, 2011.

(china daily)