Inter Milan have been knocked out of the Europa League as their 2-1 defeat at the hands of Wolfsburg in their last-16 second leg this evening gave the German outfit a 5-2 win on aggregate.
The hosts nearly opened the scoring within the first four minutes when Hernanes rattled a stinging shot towards goal which was well saved by Diego Benaglio.
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Wolfsburg countered through Bas Dost, who was sent clean through on goal in the eighth minute, but he lost control of the ball at the last, allowing Juan Pablo Carrizo to make the save.
Dieter Hecking's charges grew into the game and went on to take the lead 23 minutes in, as Kevin de Bruyne's cross from the left fell to Daniel Caligiuri, whose shot got a touch from the Inter keeper but still went into the net.
The goal served to completely deflate the Nerazzurri, who found themselves having to overturn a 4-1 aggregate deficit in little over an hour.
Wolfsburg were more than content to tread water in the second half as nothing short of a complete meltdown would see Roberto Mancini's charges proceed at the Germans' expense.
Hernanes came close to nicking a goal for Inter in the 68th minute when he bore down on goal before squeezing an effort wide from a tight angle.
Just two minutes later the consolation duly came courtesy of Rodrigo Palacio, who got on the end of a chip over the top to slice into the net.
The Nerazzurri still needed two more goals to force extra time, and all hope was extinguished in the 89th minute when Nicklas Bendtner struck a half-volley from the edge of the box to seal the tie for Wolfsburg.
Giuseppe Labellarte
