Moscow: Inter Milan advanced to the Champions League semifinals for the first time in seven years by beating 10-man CSKA Moscow 1-0 after an early goal from Wesley Sneijder on Tuesday.
Sneijder fired a low free kick through the wall in the sixth minute which glanced off CSKA midfielder Keisuke Honda and beat goalkeeper Igor Akinfeyev.
It sealed a 2-0 aggregate win after Diego Milito scored in Milan in the first leg of the quarterfinals last week, and continued coach Jose Mourinho's record of never having lost at this stage of the competition.
CSKA substitute fullback Chidi Odiah was sent off in the 49th minute after receiving a second yellow card.
Inter last made it into the final four of the competition in 2003 but lost to city rival AC Milan.
CSKA, trying to become second Russian club to reach the semifinals beside Spartak Moscow in 1991, had its first chance two minutes into the game but Honda fired a low shot wide from just outside the box. Four minutes later, he fouled Milito and Sneijder fired underneath the leaping wall of defenders.
CSKA defender Vasiliy Berezutsky, who strained his hip in Monday's practice, was substituted by Odiah in the 14th. CSKA pressed for an equalizer and dominated the entire first half.
Honda fired wide from a 27-meter free kick in the 16th, and striker Tomas Necis also hit wide from a clear chance seven minutes later.
Teammate Mark Gonzales fired a free kick over the crossbar in the 24th.
Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar made his first save in the 29th, blocking Pavel Mamaev's shot. Inter midfielder Dejan Stankovic tackled Alan Dzagoev after he made a solo run down the left flank and into the box in the 35th.
Milito had a chance to make it 2-0 on a fast conterattack in the 44th, but Akinfeyev blocked a low shot from seven meters out.
CSKA was reduced to 10 men after Odiah was shown a second yellow card for tackling Samuel Eto'o. He collected his first for a foul against Snejder late in the first half.
Despite being one man down, CSKA continue to attack with an unmarked Alan Dzagoev forcing Cesar into making a stunning save in the 57th after Necid's failed attempt at a scissors kick.
Akinfeyev saved Sneijder's shot in the 69th, then blocked Dejan Stankovic's attempt a minute later before denying Milito from close range in the 72nd.
Mario Balotelli, Inter's 19-year-old forward who scored at the weekend in his first game back after sitting out five due to a rift with Mourinho, went on for Milito in the 77th.
Inter midfielder Javier Zanetti tested Akinfeyev with a low shot from inside the box in the 76th.
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