Liverpool scored twice in the last five minutes to sink 10-man Inter Milan 2-0 and move closer to the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday. Dirk Kuyt scored in the 85th minute before captain Steven Gerrard sealed the win in the stoppage time with a long-range drive. The Italians will have an uphill to climb when they host the second leg in Milan after two weeks. Inter defended in numbers from the first-half after Marco Materazzi received his marching orders. Liverpool tested the visitors' defense twice early in the game and forced Materazzi to collect his first caution in the 12th minute.
The Italian international received his marching orders on 30 minutes for pulling Torres just outside the box. Maicon intervened to flick the ball away just before an anticipating Dirk Kuyt. The Reds applied more pressure after restart and came close on several occasions but a string of heroic saves from keeper Julio Cesar denied them until Kuyt broke the deadlock five minute from time. The Dutch striker controlled Jermaine Pennant's cross from the right and sent a powerful shot that bounced off the floor and floated past Cesar. In the 90th minute, Gerrard powered a low drive that hit the post and turned into the net for the second goal.
