Abu Dhabi, Dec 16: European champions Inter Milan swept into the final of the Club World Cup with a convincing 3-0 semifinal defeat of Asian counterparts Seongnam Ilhwa here on Wednesday.
Argentine striker Diego Milito made one goal and scored another on his return from a five-week absence, as Rafael Benitez’s under-performing side set up a meeting with surprise package Tout Puissant Mazembe in Saturday’s final. Inter, who last season won an unprecedented treble of Italian league, cup and Champions League titles, were 10 points behind Serie A leaders AC Milan when they left for Abu Dhabi, but they will now be expected to end the year with another piece of major silverware.
Inter welcomed Julio Cesar, Cristian Chivu and Milito back from injury, but Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder had to go off after appearing to injure his left hamstring inside the first 30 seconds. Sneijder had barely disappeared down the tunnel when veteran Serbian midfielder Dejan Stankovic put Inter ahead.
After Milito was crowded out on the edge of the Seongnam box, Stankovic displayed impressive balance and a cool head to steady himself and then roll the ball into the bottom-right corner with his left foot. Seongnam were unable to react to the setback and in the 32nd minute Inter doubled their lead in stylish fashion.
Captain Javier Zanetti flicked the ball to Milito and drove into the box before receiving Milito’s expertly directed back-heel and guiding the ball beyond Seongnam goalkeeper Jung Sung-Ryong. Julio Cesar had to be alert to save a Dzenan Radoncic header as Seongnam sought a route back into the game, but the Brazilian goalkeeper was then beaten by a header from Chu Byung-Kuk as he advanced to claim a free-kick, only for the ball to go wide of the post.
Stankovic had an opportunity to put the game beyond Seongnam on the hour, but his attempted pass to Samuel Eto’o who would have had only the goalkeeper to beat — was cut out by Ko Jae-Sung.
Jo Jae-Chol gave Inter a mild scare with a snapshot from distance that brushed the roof of the net, but the Italian champions were largely able to keep their opponents at arm’s length.
Eto’o was denied by Jung with 17 minutes remaining, but Milito was on hand to stab the rebound into the net and seal Inter’s place in the final. Seongnam had a superb opportunity to respond shortly afterwards, but when Julio Cesar parried Asian player of the year Sasa Ognenovski’s free-kick straight to Radoncic, the Montenegrin side-footed the ball wide from close range.
Earlier, Mexican side Pachuca hit back from 2-0 down to defeat local representatives Al-Wahda on penalties in the fifth place play-off. Pachuca trailed by two goals with less than 10 minutes to play but Dario Cvitanich claimed a late brace to tie the scores and after a goalless period of extra time, the Mexicans prevailed 4-2 on penalties.