Champions League - Inter Milan vs Chelsea - 1st Leg.

Chelsea's Champions League showdown with Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan side, ended in a 2-1 defeat at the San Siro. It leaves the tie finally balanced for the return leg at Stamford bridge.

Inter's Diego Milito put his team ahead in just the 3rd minute of the game, if the pass that found Milito looked somewhat fortuitous, the finish was emphatic as a fierce whipped shot beat Petr Cech at his near post.

Chelsea, who dominated much of the match, finally equalised through Salomon Kalou six minutes after the break but Inter restored their lead when Esteban Cambiasso drove home the winner as Chelsea defense gifted him a second opportunity.

This was a game built up as much around the managers as the players, Jose Mourinho former Chelsea coach versus Carlo Ancelotti, returning to his former home. It was Mourinho who was the more adventurous, chopping and changing his team to take advantage of different situations. But even so it was Chelsea who enjoyed ultimate superiority.

Early in the game Chelsea striker Anelka had a chance with an angled shot but only succeeded in finding the side netting.

A few moments later Kalou brought a save from the Inter keeper, Cesar, with a speculative twenty-five yard effort.

Then Chelsea won a free-kick a good thirty yards out after Ballack was fouled. Chelsea were unfortunate not to equalise as Drogba's fiercely struck shot ricocheted off the crossbar with the goalkeeper floundering.

Ballack, who had won the free-kick that gave Drogba his excellent strike on goal, then hit a curving eigheen-yard drive that was saved.

Chelsea were in control and apart from a golden opportunity to score by Eto'o, looked comfortable.

Chelsea conspiracy theorists would have been up in arms once again just before the end of the first half, when Walter Samuel's clumsy challenge brought down Kalou just a yard or two from goal. This was a nailed-on penalty, somehow missed by the linesman and referee, that would have also led to Samuel's departure. Chelsea fans will remember the debacle of last year's Champions League semi-final when Chelsea should have had three or four penalties in their home tie against Barcelona, none of which were awarded.

Earlier injustices were temporarily forgotten however when Kalou picked up the football outside the area and guided a wonderful shot into the bottom right hand corner after a superb run by Chelsea defender Ivanovic. Cesar should have done better.

Chelsea's lead lasted just four minutes, however, when a Cambiasso attempt came back off Ivanovic to present him with a second bite at the cherry and an unstoppable shot.

Chelsea lost Cech to a calf injury soon afterwards but they should have been level again in the 64th minute when Anelka found Lampard from the left hand side but the Chelsea midfielder was at full stretch and could not guide the ball past Cesar.

Chelsea will feel hard done by and will have reasonable confidence in overturning the deficit in the return leg. Mourinho's side showed some great movement and will also be confident, setting up what should be mouth-watering second leg of this Champions League match-up.

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