Inter Milan's Mauro Zarate (L) celebrates scoring near CSKA Moscow's Pavel Mamaev during their Champions League soccer match at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Sept 27, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

* Russians fall just short as Zarate strikes

MOSCOW - Inter Milan revived their Champions League campaign under new coach Claudio Ranieri after quickly recovering from throwing away a two-goal lead in a 3-2 win at CSKA Moscow on Tuesday.

Inter, stunned by Turkey's Trabzonspor 1-0 at home in their Group B opener two weeks ago, triumphed thanks to Mauro Zarate's winner as Ranieri recorded his second victory in two games since replacing the sacked Gian Piero Gasperini.

"I think we beat a very good team tonight," Ranieri told a news conference.

"We played well, passed the ball well and also controlled the tempo," added the former AS Roma, Juventus and Chelsea manager.

"But the most important thing that led us to our victory was our team spirit."

Inter sold top striker Samuel Eto'o to Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala and signed Diego Forlan from Atletico Madrid in the close season but the Uruguayan is ineligible for the Champions League after playing for the Spanish side in the Europe League qualifiers.

The Italians, who were also missing several leading players through injury, including playmaker Wesley Sneijder and midfielders Dejan Stankovic and Thiago Motta, went ahead in the sixth minute.