Jose Mourinho experienced a winning reunion with Chelsea as Inter Milan earned a 2-1 victory in their UEFA Champions League last-16 first-leg tie at the Giuseppe Meazza.

Diego Milito opened the scoring before Salomon Kalou equalised with what could eventually prove a crucial away goal early in the second period.

But a wonder strike from Esteban Cambiasso settled the contest to earn Mourinho the bragging rights and Inter a narrow advantage going into the second leg on 16th March.

Mourinho and Chelsea's ex-AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti had spent the undercard to the match exchanging verbal jabs, but the main event began with far more substance as in the third minute Inter's Milito stepped inside lazy defending from John Terry with ease before shooting past Petr Cech.

Inter celebrated in style, but their manager remained muted to suggest a respect for the club he left in 2007, greeting the goal with only an approving nod from his seat in the Inter dugout.

In the 11th minute, Nicolas Anelka tried his luck with an angled drive but the France international could only find the side netting.

But overall Chelsea's response to their early setback had been promising and moments later Kalou brought a save from Cesar with a speculative 25-yard drive.

Fierce attempt

Chelsea won a free-kick some 35 yards out when Dejan Stankovic fouled Michael Ballack in the 15th minute and they were unlucky not to equalise as Didier Drogba's fierce attempt on goal cannoned back off the crossbar with Cesar well beaten.

In the 22nd minute goalscorer Milito was booked for diving after going down from an imaginary challenge by Ricardo Carvalho and Kalou followed him seconds later after a foul on Wesley Sneijder.

The early goal had sparked Chelsea into life and the game was hardly the defensive lockout many had predicted.

Apart from Milito's goal, Chelsea had looked untroubled in defence and had dominated possession.

John Obi Mikel sent a rising drive into the arms of Cesar in the 29th minute as Chelsea continued to press for a leveller.

But Inter spurned a gilt-edged chance to increase the lead in the 34th minute when Sneijder's cross found Samuel Eto'o unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box.

Eto'o, a man Mourinho almost signed in his three-year tenure at Stamford Bridge, completely missed his kick and an encouraged Chelsea finished the first half strongly and should have had a penalty when Walter Samuel appeared to bring down Kalou.

But their penalty claims were denied and referee Manuel Gonzalez was surrounded by Chelsea players at the half-time whistle.

Equaliser

However, the Premier League leaders had their equaliser six minutes after half-time when Branislav Ivanovic found Kalou and the Ivory Coast international opened his body to side-foot from the edge of the area past Julio Cesar's questionable goalkeeping.

Kalou and the rest of the Chelsea squad then ran to the dugout in a clear show of support for coach Ancelotti.

Chelsea, though, were level for just four minutes as Argentina international Cambiasso struck a goal worthy of winning any game beyond Cech from 18 yards after Ivanovic had blocked his initial effort.

It got worse for Chelsea on the hour when goalkeeper Cech suffered a calf injury after rolling the ball out and had to be stretchered off.

There was nobody around the Czech Republic international when the incident occurred.

He was replaced by Hilario, but it was another blow to the Blues who were struggling to get back into the game for a second time.

Chelsea should have levelled in the 64th minute when the ineffective Frank Lampard collected a cross from Anelka, but saw his eight-yard shot saved by Cesar.

The Premier League title hopefuls were virtually camped inside the Inter half in the last 10 minutes, but with Kalou now replaced by Daniel Sturridge, they had little outlet on the left.

Mikel summed up a night of frustration for the Blues when he sent a 20-yard shot into the stands in the 88th minute.

Inter hung on to record a first-leg victory, but the Mourinho bandwagon will role into Stamford Bridge next month with double the intensity.

Inter Milan	Team Statistics	Chelsea
2	Goals	1
1	1st Half Goals	0
3	Shots on Target	6
4	Shots off Target	9
2	Blocked Shots	3
0	Corners	3
14	Fouls	18
4	Offsides	1
2	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
73.7	Passing Success	84
28	Tackles	13
89.3	Tackles Success	84.6
39.9	Possession	60.1
40.4	Territorial Advantage	59.6

Teams

Inter Milan  Cesar, Maicon, Samuel, Lucio, Zanetti, Stankovic (Muntari 84), Cambiasso, Motta (Balotelli 58), Sneijder, Eto’o (Pandev 67) Milito
Subs Not Used Toldo, Cordoba, Quaresma, Mariga
Booked  Motta, Milito
Goals  Milito 3, Cambiasso 55

Chelsea  Cech (Hilario 61), Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, Malouda, Ballack, Mikel, Lampard, Anelka, Drogba, Kalou (Sturridge 78)
Subs Not Used  J. Cole, Alex, Belletti, Bruma, Borini
Booked  Kalou
Goals  Kalou 51

Attendance 84,638

Referee  M. Gonzalez (Spain)