AC Milan beat Boca Juniors 4-2 today to become the first
European winners of the FIFA Club World Cup. A double from Filippo
Inzaghi and goals from Alessandro Nesta and Kaka earned the
Italians a deserved victory at the International Stadium in
Yokohama, where a sell-out crowd was treated to a fitting climax to
a thrilling tournament.
It took Carlo Ancelotti's side 21 minutes to make the
breakthrough. Kaka drove at the Boca defence and after his shot was
blocked, he instinctively and superbly drove the ball into the path
of Inzaghi, who did not require a second invitation to slot the
ball home from six yards. From the restart, though, Boca quickly
moved the ball up the other end and Rodrigo Palacio nodded home to
level the scores.
Play resumed at a frenetic pace following the interval and
within five minutes, Nesta's stunning volley restored
Milan's advantage. A couple of menacing runs from the lively
Kaka threatened to add to their lead, while only the post denied
Hugo Ibarra a superb, long-range equaliser.
With Kaka in inspirational form, though, Milan began to
dominate proceedings and it was the Brazilian who made it 3-1 just
after the hour mark, slotting through the goalkeeper's legs
from a tight angle after a purposeful charge down the left flank.
The 25-year-old, a candidate to win the FIFA World Player of the
Year award at tomorrow's Gala, then supplied a second goal for
Inzaghi in the 71st minute.
Pablo Ledesma reduced the deficit with time running out, but
the day belonged to AC Milan, who succeeded where the likes of Real
Madrid, Manchester United (both 2000), Liverpool (2005) and
Barcelona (2006) had failed.
