Sheriff Tiraspol-Inter: 1-3 - Champions 2021/2022. Final result and commentary from the game

Where the match is played:
Stadium: Bolshaya Sportivnaya Arena
City: Tiraspol
Capacity for: 13460 people20:29

Hello and welcome to tonight's live coverage of the Champions League encounter from Group D between Sheriff Tiraspol and Inter Milan. The tournament debutants will look to continue their fairytale Champions League campaign this evening when they host the Italian champions at the Bolshaya Sportivnaya Arena.20:29

Sheriff are seeking revenge this evening, having lost the first meeting between these two sides 3-1 in October. A win would see them return to the top of Group D, but Real Madrid have put pressure on both sides, thanks to their 2-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in Spain.20:40

Inter became the first team to inflict defeat on Sheriff in October, and another win for the Italian outfit would allow them to leap ahead of them in Group D.20:48

Last month's defeat to Inter was Sheriff's first in a competitive match since July, but they will be up against it when they take on Simone Inzaghi's side, with Inter unbeaten in four games.20:49

SHERIFF (4-2-3-1): Georgios Athanasiadis; Fernando Costanza, Danilo Arboleda, Gustavo Dulanto, Cristiano; Sebastien Thill, Edmond Addo; Adama Traore, Dimitris Kolovos, Frank Andersson Castaneda Velez; Jasurbek Yakhshiboev.20:53

SUBS: Serghei Pascenco, Bruno, Alexandr Belousov, Serafim Cojocaru, Dumitru Celeadnic, Stjepan Radeljic, Keston Julien, Maxim Cojocaru.20:55

INTER (3-5-2): Samir Handanovic; Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij, Alessandro Bastoni; Matteo Darmian, Nicolo Barella, Marcelo Brozovic, Arturo Vidal, Federico Dimarco; Edin Dzeko, Lautaro Martínez.20:57

SUBS: Ionut Radu, Stefano Sensi, Alexis Sanchez, Matias Vecino, Joaquin Correa, Hakan Calhanoglu, Roberto Gagliardini, Denzel Dumfries, Danilo D'Ambrosio, Aleksandar Kolarov, Ivan Perisic, Andrea Ranocchia.20:58

Both teams won their previous games 2-0, with Inter beating Udinese and Sheriff getting the better of Petrocub. Inzaghi has a fully-fit squad to choose from tonight, while Yuriy Vernydub is without Lovro Bizjack, Momo Yansane and Boban Nikolov due to injury.21:07

Following their win over Sheriff last time out, Inter Milan will be looking to record consecutive wins in the Champions League for the first time since October 2018.20:58

The two teams are out on the pitch and we are moments away from kick-off.20:59

We are underway!21:01

Sheriff have already beaten Shakhtar Donetsk on home soil tonight, and they will be hoping their fans can get under the skin of the Inter players inside the opening few minutes.21:04

Every time the home side pile forward, their fans react in delight, but they have very little to cheer as Traore's latest drive sails into the stands.21:07

Neither side have managed to take control inside the first ten minutes, but that will suit Sheriff, as long as Inter do not start to dominate.21:12

It is still early stages, but both sides could do with lifting the tempo. Sheriff seem happy for Inter to dictate possession, but the Italian outfit are taking their time to reach the final third.21:17

BLOCK! Inter midfielder Brozovic thought he had done enough to test Sheriff goalkeeper Athanasiadis, but Arboleda got in the way on the edge of the box, and the scoreline remains 0-0.21:16

As it stands, Sheriff have a two-point cushion over Inter Milan, and that is enough for them to keep hold of second place. Should the Italian outfit take the lead, they will swap places with tonight's hosts.21:22

Kolovos concedes a free-kick as he brings down Barella, and Inter now have the chance to test the home side.21:18

CLEARED! Sheriff do enough to clear the ball, with Cristiano leaping higher than everyone to concede a corner.21:19

In major European competitions, the last team to beat Sheriff away from home was Tottenham in the 2013-14 Europa League. The Moldovan side are unbeaten in their previous five home games across the Europa League and Champions League.22:08

There's a training ground feel to this game so far, with Inter playing without urgency. Sheriff appear to be playing on the counter-attack, so they are struggling to burst into life as a result.21:27

CHANCE! Sheriff goalkeeper Athanasiadis does not deal with Dimarco's cross from a corner, and that allows Martinez to try his luck at opening the scoring. The Argentinean sees two efforts blocked at close range, which is the closest Inter has come to scoring.21:30

WIDE! Inter seem to have lifted the tempo, and they create another chance as a result. This time Darmian thrashes his shot past the far post after Sheriff failed to clear their lines from a dangerous cross from the visitors.21:31

The home side are doing themselves proud defensively, with Inter yet to open the scoring inside the first 30 minutes. However, in the last five minutes, Inzaghi's team look to have stepped up to another level.21:35

Addo is the first player to be booked after fouling Martinez on the edge of the box. 21:36

Sheriff's wall does its job as Dimarco sees his effort blocked from the resulting free-kick.21:37

Sheriff are struggling to keep Inter at bay at the moment, and they look like they could do with half-time.21:44

OFF THE POST! Sheriff are saved by the upright as Martinez's curling effort beats Athanasiadis, but the Inter forward watches on as the ball cannons off the far post. The home side stood off Martinez and they were inches away from being punished.22:09

Inter right-back Darmian is booked for a poor challenge.21:44

HALF-TIME - SHERIFF 0-0 INTER.21:47

Sheriff will be the happier of the two teams as the referee brings the first 45 minutes to a close. In truth, the opening half was rather dull for the neutral, but the Moldovan side will take that as long as they get a result. They have done nothing to test Handanovic in the Inter goal, but Inzaghi's men have gone close on a handful of occasions. Brozovic, Darmian and Martinez have tried their luck, with the latter hitting the post towards the end of the first half. 21:50

Both Dzeko and Martinez have looked lively when they have received possession, but Inter need to quicken up their play. There's every chance they can be one or two goals ahead, should they stop in first gear.21:51

We are back underway!22:01

Inzaghi is clearly unhappy with his team's first-half display as Darmian is replaced by Dumfries at the break.22:59

If it wasn't for defender Cristiano, Sheriff would very likely be trailing tonight. The left-back has covered so much ground and made several crucial blocks on the edge of his own box. 22:06

Cristiano makes another crucial interception; sadly for Sheriff, it is illegal, and he brings down Dumfries, and he picks up a card in the process.22:08

That was superb vision from Vidal, who could have gone for goal himself, but he picked out Brozovic, who was the better option.22:12

Now, what do Sheriff have in response? The home side have not tested Handanovic enough to deserve anything from the game, and they may need to turn to their bench to get something from this Champions League encounter.23:00

Brozovic's strike is his first goal in the Champions League, and it comes on his 27th appearance in the competition.22:17

Kolovos is carded after a poor challenge, joining team-mate Cristiano in the book.22:19

Radeljic makes his third appearance in the Champions League from the bench as he replaces Addo.22:18

With the score at 1-0, Sheriff have dropped down into third in Group D, with Real Madrid two points clear of Inter at the top.22:17

Costanza makes a poor challenge and he is now booked as a result.23:00

Inzaghi freshens up his midfield, with playmaker Perisic on in place of Dimarco.22:20

Seconds after scoring, Skriniar is brought back down to earth as he is booked, after bringing down Castaneda on the halfway line.22:24

Like Brozovic, Skriniar has now scored his first goal in the Champions League this evening.22:24

Inter have an injury to worry about here as Vidal has stayed down after making a strong tackle in midfield.22:29

Another change for Sheriff as Kolovos makes way for Bruno.22:29

He might not be running freely, but Vidal is back on the field, and he looks determined to see this game out. 22:30

Since conceding a second goal, Sheriff have offered nothing going forward, and Inter have outclassed them so far this evening. There is still time for a third goal for the Italian side, and it would not be a surprise to see it happen.22:35

Inzaghi seems to be protecting his front two from injury, with Dzeko replaced by Correa.22:37

Sanchez is also introduced, with Martinez making way with eight minutes remaining.04:58

What a night for Brozovic as he now has one goal and one assist to his name after Sanchez's strike.22:40

Yakhshiboev has been quiet tonight for Sheriff and he is now replaced by Julien.22:44

That is Sanchez's first goal in the Champions League since he netted for Arsenal way back in 2017.22:40

More changes for Inter as Ranocchia steps into defence in place of De Vrij.22:40

Sheriff are running out of time if they want to score in front of their home fans, and with the game out of reach, they now need other results to go their way in the competition if they are to qualify for the knockout stages. 22:48

Two minutes of stoppage time to come!22:48

As usual, Thill has been Sheriff's most creative player, and he gets his reward with an assist in stoppage time.22:50

FULL-TIME - SHERIFF 1-3 INTER.22:50

Inter keep pace with group leaders Real Madrid as they outclass Sheriff on their travels in the Champions League. Inzaghi's men failed to find the back of the net in the first 45 minutes, but they got their breakthrough in the 54th minute. Vidal picked out Brozovic on the edge of the box, and the Inter ace scored his first goal in the competition thanks to a powerful shot. Twelve minutes later, Skriniar smashed the ball home from a corner, while Sanchez stepped off the bench to score with his first touch in the dying minutes. There was still time for Sheriff to grab a consolation goal, as Traore headed home Thill's cross in the final 30 seconds.22:56

After their win over Shakhtar Donetsk, Real Madrid sit top of Group D on nine points. Inter Milan are two points behind them thanks to tonight's victory, with Sheriff now in third. There's only one point between Inter and Sheriff, but the latter now need those above them to make mistakes.22:58

That is all for tonight folks, thanks for joining us. Goodbye!22:59