Inter Milan continued their perfect start to the Champions League campaign as they blitzed their way to an unstoppable 5-1 win over Valencia in a Group G match on Wednesday.
Quick-fire goals from midfielder Dejan Stankovic and striker Christian Vieri broke the deadlock in the space of just two minutes at the start of the second half in what had been a delicately balanced match at the Mestalla.
Valencia pulled one back when Pablo Aimar cracked home midway through the half but there was no let up from the Serie A side who restored their two-goal lead three minutes later when substitute Andy van der Meyde scored with his first touch.
Brazilian striker Adriano capped a brilliant individual performance with a thundering close-range finish nine minutes from time and there was still time for his replacement Julio Cruz to complete the rout in injury time.
"It was a really heavy blow," said Valencia captain David Albelda. "It has been a week to forget but we have no choice but to try and bounce back from this defeat."
Inter lead Group G with a maximum nine points, three ahead of Werder Bremen, who beat bottom side Anderlecht 2-1, and six in front of Valencia.
The Spanish champions made an aggressive start as they hounded the Inter midfield and mounted several sharp attacking moves in the opening quarter.
Former Juventus striker Marco Di Vaio had a goal-bound shot tipped wide by the outstretched Alberto Fontana in the 15th minute and midfielder Francisco Rufete hit the post with a tricky inswinging corner soon after.
But the early scares sparked the Italians into action and with Adriano leading the way they put Valencia under intense pressure for the remainder of the half.
SHARP ONE-TWO
Midfielders Emre Belozoglu and Dejan Stankovic prized open the Valencia defence with a sharp one-two to put Adriano in the clear on the half hour, but the powerful Brazilian sliced his shot wide of the post with the goal at his mercy.
Four minutes later he burst into the area leaving three defenders in his flailing wake before laying off a neat pass to Emre, but the Turkish midfielder miscued his shot.
Fellow striker Vieri, who spent most of the first half frustrated by the offside trap, gave the home side a final fright just before the break when he hooked a volley over the bar.
But despite the warnings, Valencia, who were missing first choice centre backs Carlos Marchena and Roberto Ayala, were caught off guard by Inter's blistering start to the second half.
Serbia & Montenegro international Stankovic began the blitz when he directed a perfect glancing header into the top corner after a fine cross from defender Giuseppe Favalli two minutes after the break.
Valencia were still reeling from the blow when Vieri hit them with a second, cracking a volley past Santiago Canizares after Adriano had wafted in a great cross from the right.
Although Aimar managed to get a goal back when he netted from eight metres, Inter restored their advantage immediately when Van der Meyde cut in past Amedeo Carboni and drilled home less than a minute after stepping on to the pitch.
There was no respite for Valencia, though, and Adriano pounced to slam home a Javier Zanetti cross in the 81st minute.
He made way for Cruz two minutes later and the Argentine striker blasted in number five after a great assist from Stankovic to complete a humiliating first home defeat in 10 European games for the UEFA Cup holders.
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