A 78th-minute goal by Samuel Eto'o and an accomplished defensive display gave Inter a deserved 1-0 win at Chelsea on Tuesday that sent them into the Champions League quarter-finals 3-1 on aggregate.
The Italians, who had fallen at the first knockout stage for the last three seasons and were led by former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho, took the initiative from the start and Chelsea were never able to get control of the game.
Inter had missed the three best chances of the match before Wesley Sneijder sent Eto'o free and the striker tucked the ball past stand-in keeper Ross Turnbull.
Chelsea, who had reached the semi-finals in five of the last six years and last lost a home Champions League game four years ago, were desperately short of invention and barely troubled goalkeeper Julio Cesar as Mourinho enjoyed another night to remember at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was sent off three minutes from time after a clash with Thiago Motta.