Chelsea 0 Inter Milan 1 (Milan win 3-1 on aggregate):Jose Mourinho worked his magic once more after his Inter Milan side arrived at Stamford Bridge to deny his former employers a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. A 78th-minute goal by Samuel Eto'o and an accomplished defensive display gave the visitors a deserved 1-0 win that sent them into the last eight, 3-1 on aggregate.
The Italians, who had fallen at the first knockout stage for the last three seasons and were led by the former Chelsea coach, took the initiative from the start and Chelsea were never able to get control of the game.
Inter had missed the three best chances of the match before Wesley Sneijder sent Eto'o free and the striker tucked the ball past stand-in keeper Ross Turnbull.
Chelsea, who had reached the semi-finals in five of the last six years and last lost a home Champions League game four years ago, were desperately short of invention and barely troubled goalkeeper Julio Cesar as Mourinho enjoyed another night to remember at Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho’s triumphant return to Stamford Bridge served as a reminder to Roman Abramovich of the mistake he made letting go of the Portuguese’s services.
Chelsea’s campaign ended in more misery when Didier Drogba was sent off in the 87th minute for a crude moment of petulance, appearing to stamp on Thiago Motta.
Mourinho, who never lost a home league game during his time as manager at Chelsea, had begun the evening with a low profile entry from the tunnel and into his dugout seat.
Chelsea fans responded with warm applause but Mourinho refrained from hogging the limelight. He knew he and his team had a job to do.
Mourinho had cleverly picked an attacking side with Eto’o, Diego Milito and Goran Pandev up front, and his plan worked superbly.
They set about the task of preserving their one-goal advantage from the opening leg in the San Siro with a determination and energy rarely associated with Italian teams.
They closed Chelsea down with alarming efficiency for much of the half and squandered a gilt-edged opportunity to pile on the agony for the English side.
But when the home side did get into gear, there was enough encouragement to suggest the deficit could easily be wiped out.
The low intensity of the game was briefly interrupted in the 15th minute when Florent Malouda was kicked in the face by Lucio.
Milan had the miss of the half from Eto’o. Maicon’s cross eluded Chelsea captain John Terry and fell straight to the Inter striker at the far post.
But instead of planting his header into the net, Eto’o headed the ball down and over the cross bar.
It was a real let-off for the home side who then had two penalty claims rejected within minutes.
First Motta escaped when he rugby-tackled Branislav Ivanovic and moments later Walter Samuel was guilty of an atrocious challenge on Drogba as the Ivorian attempted to lose his marker from a corner.
Amazingly, Stark missed both offences and Motta then cleared off the line after Nicolas Anelka had turned a pass from Drogba towards the empty goal.
It had been a frustrating half for Chelsea and more of the same was dished-up in the second period.
Malouda briefly threatened to take the game to the Italians and his trickery earned Motta a booking in the 47th minute. It was a yellow card that will keep him out of the quarter-final.
Lucio was also booked by Stark and he will miss the first-leg of Inter’s quarter-final tie.
As the second-half wore on, Milan began to exploit Chelsea’s nervousness.
Yury Zhirkov produced a sensational block tackle to prevent Goran Pandev from putting Milan in front on the night and in the 65th minute Diego Milito put his shot wide with just Ross Turnbull to beat.
The goal finally arrived in the 79th minute when Eto’o collected a superb pass from Wesley Sneijder and ran on to fire past Turnbull.
Mourinho allowed himself a short run out of his dugout but then remembered his pledge not to celebrate and walked back to his seat.
The former Chelsea boss watched the closing seconds from the sanctuary of the tunnel and disappeared at the final whistle to leave the glory and celebrations to his victorious team.
Tonight's Champions League Results
Chelsea 0-1 Inter Milan
(Milan win 3-1 on aggregate)
Sevilla 1-2 CSKA Moscow
(Moscow win 3-2 on aggregate)