AC Milan batter Boca to set world club record
December 17, 2007 - 0:0
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AFP) -- Italian giants AC Milan overwhelmed Argentina's Boca Juniors 4-2 in the Club World Cup final on Sunday to win a record fourth intercontinental crown.
Prolific striker Filippo Inzaghi scored twice either side of goals from Kaka and defender Alessandro Nesta, as Milan added to their 1969, 1989 and 1990 titles.Boca's Rodrigo Palacio was on target in the first half and Milan's Massimo Ambrosini conceded a late own goal to keep the scoreline respectable for the South American champions.
""We have obtained everything we should as a team,"" said Kaka after the Rossoneri added the Club World Cup to the European Champions League and Super Cup titles they have already won this calendar year.
""One phase in my life has ended. I want to move toward another phase and win all these titles again,"" said the 25-year-old Brazilian.
Inzaghi thanked Kaka for setting up his two goals.
""Kaka was just excellent. He scored one himself and helped me with my goals,"" said the 34-year-old, who scored a record 63th goal in European competition against Celtic in a Champions League match before coming here.
""It has been a great year for me.""
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said: ""I really thank God for this year as we won the trophy which is so hard to get. This is the very end of our long and tough road. We were able to finish the task with the best result.""
It was Milan's 18th international victory after their seven Champions League and European Cup titles, two Cup Winners' Cups and five European Super Cups.
The win also avenged Milan's penalties defeat to the Argentinians in the final of the 2003 Intercontinental Cup, the Club World Cup's previous incarnation.
""I don't like the word 'revenge',"" said Kaka. ""In 2003, we lost and it was history. Now we won and made history.""
Ancelotti said: ""This trophy gives us a lot of satisfaction, especially as we lost to Boca Juniors when we played them last, and we avenged that loss today.""
Milan's victory also helped restore European pride after Brazilian teams have swept the competition since it was created by merging with the Intercontinental Cup. Sao Paulo beat Liverpool in 2005 and Internacional whipped Barcelona last year.
Inzaghi opened the scoring when Kaka from a rebound after Kaka had shot in the 21st minute. However the strike was canceled out by Palacio's leaping header a minute later.
Nesta met a Clarence Seedorf free-kick shortly after halftime to put Milan ahead, with Kaka doubling their advantage with a superb dribble and shot before Inzaghi's second on 71 minutes.
Palacio and Martin Palermo were confounded by Milan's Brazilian goalkeeper Dida before Ambrosini put one in his own net with five minutes left.
Despite the cold night, the temperature on the pitch was boiling as Milan defender Kakha Kaladze was sent off in the 77th minute, followed 11 minutes later by Boca midfielder Pablo Ledesma. There were also five yellow cards.
""It was a close match. After Milan scored the goal, everything changed. We had some chances at the end, but a small difference made a big difference in the score,"" said a dejected Boca coach Miguel Russo.
""It was 50-50 in the first half and Milan were better in making space in the second half. We couldn't. We wanted to add more goals at the end, but we didn't have the luck today,"" he added.