MILAN (Italy), March 15: Inter Milan became the third Italian team to reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League after they beat Ajax 1-0 here on Tuesday. Dejan Stankovic’s unstoppable drive 12 minutes into the second half secured a narrow victory over the Dutch outfit for a 3-2 aggregate score in the last of the eight first knockout round ties.

It also saved the blushes of Inter’s Brazilian striker Adriano whose first-half penalty miss could have proved costly.

Had he scored, he would have equalled the club record of 16 Champions League/European Cup goals, currently held by 1960s Inter legend Sandro Mazzola.

The match saw the return of Inter fans to the San Siro after their four-match spectator ban imposed by UEFA ended.

The ban was handed to Inter following crowd trouble at the stadium in last season’s Champions League.

Inter, who join Serie A rivals AC Milan and Juventus in the last eight, next face Spanish side Villareal.

Inter coach Roberto Mancini said his side should have killed the match off much sooner.

Ajax coach Danny Blind admitted the first leg in Amsterdam, which the Dutch side led 2-0 at half time before drawing 2-2, had left them with too much to do.

Mancini opted for the pace of Obafemi Martins rather than the craft of Uruguayan Alvaro Recoba to compliment the power of Adriano.

Blind was unable to pick his strongest side with defenders Zdenek Grygera and Johnny Heitinga and midfield pair Wesley Sneijder and Tomas Galasek all injured.

Mancini had insisted Inter would not sit back and he was true to his word with the home side making all the early running.

Luis Figo curled a shot over the bar before Maarten Stekelenburg came rushing off his line to punch clear from Adriano.

Ajax breathed a sigh of relief in the ninth minute when Nigerian international Martins fired a dipping left-footed volley against the crossbar.

Inter persisted and only a last-ditch clearance from Hedwiges Maduro prevented Martins from tucking away Figo’s right-wing cross.

The hosts wasted a golden opportunity to strengthen their grip on the tie in the 27th minute.

Ajax captain Olaf Lindenbergh blocked Stankovic’s cross with his arm, and Swedish referee Peter Frojdfeldt pointed to the penalty spot.

Adriano seemed caught in two minds whether to go for pace or precision, and in the end he dragged a feeble shot wide of the post.

Ajax mustered their first chance 11 minutes before half time, but Mauro Rosales’s curler lacked any real power to trouble Francesco Toldo.

Ajax grew in ambition and Lindenbergh tried his luck from distance, only to see his drive fly wide of the post.

Figo shot straight at Stekelenburg within seconds of the restart, before Adriano overcooked a cross meant for the unmarked Martins.

Inter finally made the breakthrough in the 57th minute.

Walter Samuel’s long ball released Stankovic down the left and the adventurous Serbian midfielder ran towards the edge of the box, cut inside Maduro and drilled a superb right-footed that flew into the far corner.

Ajax were forced into attack, but Inter’s defence, marshalled by the excellent Samuel, held firm.

English FA Cup result

LONDON: English FA Cup result on Tuesday:

Fifth round replay

Manchester City 2 Aston Villa 1

—Agencies