Dynamo Kiev and Inter Milan both exited the Champions League following a 1-1 draw in their final Group B match on Wednesday.

Inter Milan's defender Daniele Adani (R) reacts after his missing a goal against Dynamo Kiev as Dynamo Kiev's Goran Sablic sits aside during their Champions League Group B soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev December 10, 2003. [AP]

Inter defender Daniele Adani headed the Italians in front on 69 minutes before Brazilian striker Diogo Rincon equalised for Dynamo with four minutes remaining.

The draw, which left Inter level on eight points with Lokomotiv Moscow behind group winners Arsenal (10), was only good enough to salvage the Italians a UEFA Cup spot.

Lokomotiv, who had a superior head-to-head record against Inter, advanced to the Champions League knockout phase along with Arsenal, despite losing 2-0 to the English premier league club in the other Group B match in London.

Ukrainian champions Dynamo Kiev finished bottom of the group and were eliminated from European competition.

Both coaches were left highly disappointed with the outcome.

'There is great disappointment at the result to go out like this but we produced a great performance, playing at a high pace and conceding little to the opposition,' Inter Milan coach Alberto Zaccheroni told Canale 5 television.

'It was one of those days when we created a lot but weren't able to take the chances.

'There is some bitterness because we deserved so much more,' Zaccheroni added. 'From the start until the final whistle I thought we could do it.'

Dynamo coach Alexei Mikhailichenko, said: 'Of course, we all are very disappointed with the draw. However, I can't blame my team for not trying (to win) as they gave their all tonight.'

'At least, this year we played much better in the Champions League than last year,' added the former Rangers midfielder.

With Inter and Dynamo looking for a win to go through, the match, played on a freezing Kiev night, saw plenty of chances for both sides.

The visitors created more opportunities in an entertaining first half but Dynamo keeper Olexander Shovkovsky was equal to the task by making several fine stops.

Zaccheroni introduced Nigerian Obafemi Martins as his third striker early in the second half to inject greater firepower.

Even before he scored, Adani looked to be the hero for the Italians as he made a great defensive intervention 15 minutes into the second half, clearing the ball off the line after a close-range shot by Jerko Leko.

At the other end, Shovkovsky made a succession of great saves. He denied Christian Vieri from close range before saving with his legs from Adani following a point-blank shot.

The Italians were looking for a deserved victory after Adani finally put one beyond Shovkovsky, but Rincon brought a capacity 82,500 crowd to their feet as he equalised in the 86th minute to produce a nailbiting finish.

Close

Today's Top News		Top Sports News
+'Sino-US friendship benefits world' ( 2003-12-11) +US team comes to check TV costs ( 2003-12-10) +Cities sinking due to excessive pumping of groundwater ( 2003-12-11) +Nov industry output up 17.9% ( 2003-12-10) +Domestic violence put under the spotlight ( 2003-12-10)		+Inter Milan fail to advance after 1-1 draw ( 2003-12-11) +Tiger Woods perseveres after knee injury ( 2003-12-11) +Suns fire coach Johnson after 8-13 start ( 2003-12-11) +NBA: Kings defeat the Clippers 105-95 ( 2003-12-10) +NBA: Lakers defeat the Knicks 98-90 ( 2003-12-10)