Inter Milan managed to get a goal at Stamford Bridge, advancing to the Champions League quarter-final 3-1 on aggregate.

By Vincent Lai

Samuel Eto'o scored the only goal of the match, as the Nerazzurri came up tops in a game of attrition.

Here are the player ratings for this game:

Chelsea:

Ross Turnbull: 5

The Chelsea third-choice keeper had little to do as Inter created little in front of goal, but failed to stop Eto'o when it counted late in the second half.

Branislav Ivanovic: 5

The right-back wasn't really tested by Inter's frontline as he kept Milito and Pandev quiet whenever they made a sojourn to the right flank, but failed to prevent Eto'o from scoring the all-important goal as Chelsea were dumped out of the Champions League.

Alex: 4

Coped well with the antics of Samuel Eto'o early in the first half, but regressed in the second half, and ultimately played Eto'o onside for his goal in the 78^th minute.

John Terry: 6

The Chelsea captain did not really exert himself in the game, as he kept Milito and Pandev at bay, denying them space and clear shots at the Blues' goal. Could do much about Eto'o's goal as he was on the other side of the penalty area when it happened.

Yuri Zhirkov (off 73'): 6

Zhirkov overlapped well in the game, and tracked back just as quickly to cut off any through passes made by Sneijder. The Russian wide-man provided width to Chelsea's three-man midfield and almost made Inter pay with his crosses.

Michael Ballack (off 62'): 6

The Germany captain almost opened the scoring for the Blues, but steered his shot just wide from 25 yards in the 11^th minute. Coped well in his battle with Esteban Cambiasso, paying back with interest whatever the Argentine enforcer threw at him.

John Obi Mikel: 6

Chelsea's youngest player on the field was another physical presence in the middle, as he battled Cambiasso and Motta for midfield supremacy. Mikel nipped many of Inter's attacks in the bud and fed the Blues' front line.

Frank Lampard: 5

Lampard looked subdued in this game, performing someway below his usual high standards. The England midfielder did not have any space to create for any of the Blues' front men, credit to the Inter midfield for always keeping a man in his face. Had a shot rushed down by Samuel close to halftime.

Nicolas Anelka: 6

'Le Sulk' did have a chance in the 42^nd minute, but did not get enough on the ball to trouble Julio Cesar and Thiago Motta (who returned just in time to hack the ball off the goal-line). Other than that chance, Anelka worked hard but just didn't seem to be in the right place at the right time.

Didier Drogba: 1

The Ivorian striker struggled mightily against Samuel and Lucio, who took turns to wear down the physical forward. Drogba was shackled effectively by the Inter defence, and had his only meaningful shot on goal blocked by Maicon. He was later sent off when Chelsea needed him most, as he stamped on Motta in retaliation. Bad move, Didier.

Florent Malouda: 6

Malouda was lively in this game, but huffed and puffed to no tangible rewards. The forward was denied a penalty in the sixth minute after Lucio brought him down in the area, and had a shot diverted by the Walter Samuel.

Subs:

Joe Cole (on 62'): 5

Cole came on and didn't have much of an impact on the game. Did not look match-fit.

Salomon Kalou (on 73'): 6

Had an impact immediately upon entering the game as his pace and craftiness almost cut open the Inter defence for a goal.

Inter Milan:

Julio Cesar: 6

The busier goalkeeper on the pitch, but had his defence to thank for keeping a clean sheet in this game. He did block out Malouda's screamer in the 51^st minute to preserve the valuable shutout.

Maicon: 7

The Brazilian full-back was a bundle of energy on the right flank, and contributed in giving Jose Mourinho's men a clean sheet after getting an important block on Drogba early in the game. Maicon was also active upfront, as he overlapped ceaselessly to give Inter an outlet on the right.

Lucio: 7

Maicon's fellow compatriot was rock solid against the likes Anelka, Drogba and Malouda, and played well in Inter's zonal defence as he covered well whenever Samuel charged forward to make a block on a shot.

Walter Samuel: 8

The Argentine defender was everywhere on defence in this game, closing down on shot-after-shot-after-shot. Samuel showed his determination in sacrificing his body to block shots, and was a force in the air as he gobbled up defensive headers by the dozen.

Javier Zanetti: 6

Inter's evergreen captain was adequate on defence, and charged forward occasionally to support the attack. Pretty pedestrian by Il Trattore's lofty standards.

Esteban Cambiasso: 6

The Argentine midfield destroyer had his effectiveness curtailed by the presence of Mikel and Ballack, but did provide another body to place in front of Cesar as Chelsea went all out looking for a winner.

Wesley Sneijder (off 85'): 8

Super Sneijder seemed like Clark Kent in the first half, as the Dutchman was lost in the shuffle of blue and white. Sneijder must have found a phone booth during half-time, as he sliced open the Chelsea defence time after time, only for his team-mates to shoot wide. Supplied the pass where Eto'o scored the winning goal to round up a fantastic second half.

Thiago Motta (off 90'): 6

Single-handedly (or footedly) preserved Inter's clean sheet as he hacked Anelka's shot off the line late in the first half. Gave Mikel and Ballack a run for their money, and bodied up against Lampard well; constantly shadowing the Chelsea superstar.

Goran Pandev (off 75'): 6

Couldn't get much of a sniff on goal, thanks to the intense marking from Terry and Alex, but contrived to get his shot deflected by Zhirkov after spending one too many seconds deciding what to do with the ball in a rare one-on-one situation.

Samuel Eto'o: 8

Eto'o was shackled in the first half, but came alive in the second half to score the all-important goal to help Inter advance to the Champions League quarter-finals. The Cameroon striker beat the offside trap, and exploded to meet the ball before slotting it calmly past an onrushing Turnbull.

Diego Milito: 6

The Argentine striker had a decent chance on goal in the 60^th minute, but his shot was comfortably saved by Turnbull. Milito had a one-on-one chance five minutes later, but fired his shot wide under pressure.

Subs:

Dejan Stankovic (on 75'): 5

Didn't do much on his time on the field.

McDonald Mariga (on 85'): 5

Showed he had some pace.

Marco Materazzi (on 90'): NA

A convenient substitution?