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UEFA Champions League: Cruz goal gives Inter Milan 1-0 win over Artmedia [Tue Sep 13th, 2005]
Bratislava (Reuters) - Ten-man Inter Milan held on to secure a 1-0 win over Artmedia Bratislava in their opening UEFA Champions League game after an early Julio Cruz goal.
Inter's Juan Sebastian Veron was sent off after 56 minutes of the Group H match when the Argentine midfielder got a second yellow card for taking a free kick before the whistle was blown.
But Inter, clear favourites against one of the the weakest teams in Europe's premier competition, had already shown their attacking talent with a swift break in the 17th minute.
Dejan Stankovic's perfectly-timed pass behind Artmedia's defence found Adriano and Cruz drove the Brazilian's precise low cross from the left past helpless goalkeeper Ivan Cobej.
Adriano provided a second chance for Cruz with a similar pass in the 37th but the Argentine international fired his shot straight at Cobej from only four metres.
The result left Inter second in the standings behind Rangers, who beat Porto 3-2 in Tuesday's other Group H match.
Inter coach Roberto Mancini was happy to gain the three points his team were expected to pick up in Bratislava.
MANCINI SATISFIED
"I think we played a good match, which we needed to win. We succeeded, so I'm satisfied," Mancini said. "It was a tough match, both teams were strong."
"I think the strikers did a good job. Cruz scored and Adriano had two good chances."
The Brazilian had an opportunity to score in the 55th when Stankovic found him unmarked near the penalty spot but Adriano blasted his shot well over the bar.
The striker was then denied a goal in the 68th when his free kick from 20 metres hit Cobej's right hand post.
Artmedia tried to put pressure on Inter after Veron was sent off but the visiting goalkeeper Julio Cesar saved their only real chance when forward Juraj Halenar fired a low shot from close range at the Brazilian five minutes from time.
Artmedia coach Vladimir Weiss was satisfied with his team's performance but could not hide his frustration that Slovakia's champions missed an opportunity against weakened opponents.
"It was a great match for us and a great experience in the Champions League," Weiss said.
"After Veron was sent off I believed that we could play a good match, that we could get at least a point. Unfortunately, we did not manage to achieve that.
"We could have played a better match against 10 men. Some of our players had too much respect (for Inter), and that's why we did not get even a point," said Weiss.
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