Deivid provides spark to sink Inter

Fenerbahçe SK produced a dominant display to open their UEFA Champions League Group G campaign with a well-earned win against FC Internazionale Milano.

Goliath slain
Key to the game were the performances of Alex and Deivid, the pair combining for the decisive goal before the break with Deivid firing in an acrobatic shot. Inter may have been depleted at the back but Fenerbahçe's showing could well have been enough to overcome the full-strength Italian title-holders.

Inter pressed back
Self-confessed underdogs Fenerbahçe may have been, but they were keen to test a reshuffled Inter defence in which Colombian summer signing Nelson Rivas made his debut due to the absences of the suspended Nicolás Burdisso, Maicon and Iván Córdoba, and of injured duo Marco Materazzi and Cristian Chivu. Júlio César made an important early save to tip over Mehmet Aurélio's header from an Alex cross, before Mateja Kežman only just failed to connect with an incisive ball by Deivid.

Positive play
Inter were not without their dangerous moments and Önder Turacı had to be alert to intercept as David Suazo cut back from the byline with the looming Zlatan Ibrahimović waiting to pounce. Still Fenerbahçe were in positive mood and Gökçek Vederson, starting on the left for the injured Tümer Metin, let fly from distance while Alex and Deivid thrived in free roles behind Kežman. Each of the Brazilian duo had good chances, Deivid in particular testing Júlio César with a stinging shot.