AC Milan cruise to 3-1 win over Inter for tie at top

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, October 07, 2003

AC Milan cruise to 3-1 win over Inter for tie at top

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European champions AC Milan cruised to a 3-1 win over Inter at the San Siro stadium on Sunday, moving level with Juventus at the top of Serie A and continuing an impressive run against their city rivals.

Milan went ahead in the 39th minute when a well struck Andrea Pirlo free kick flashed off the head of Filippo Inzaghi and beat a sprawling Francesco Toldo.

Just 29 seconds after the restart, Carlo Ancelotti's side doubled their advantage when Brazilian Kaka headed in a cross from Gennaro Gattuso after some sloppy defending by Inter.

The second goal knocked the heart out of Inter who struggled to compete in midfield and continued to look exposed at the back.

In attack, Christian Vieri, making his first start after over three weeks on the sidelines, received little quality service and was closely guarded by Milan central defenders Alessandro Nesta and captain Paolo Maldini.

Milan won all the challenges in midfield and every time they attacked, with Shevchenko in top form and Inzaghi lurking as always, they looked capable of adding to the score.

Ukrainian striker Shevchenko did just that in the 77th minute, firing home after a neat one-two with Cafu, and although Inter pulled a goal back two minutes later, a stunning strike from Nigerian teenager Obafemi Martins, it was too late to matter.

Martins had a chance to pull another back but shot softly at Dida from a promising position and with that opportunity went any hope Inter had of mounting a comeback.

Very happy

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was full of praise for his players.

"The team did really well today, it was a great game for us and we are very happy," he said.

"I thought it would be a tight balanced game like last season but we were able to get hold of the game in midfield and also to take our chances.

"Our aim is to be in that sort of form all the time," added the Milan coach.

"Inter started well but as time went on they had difficult to close us down in midfield and at the back and that is how our victory was born."

Inter boss Cuper said his side had failed to build upon a promising start.

"I was quite pleased with how we started but then we lost a bit of control in midfield and so I decided to make a change and straight away we conceded a goal," he said. "That was an important moment.

"After the goal we lost, above all, our order in the field. I changed things around at the break and then straight away we conceded the second," he added.

The Inter coach appeared resigned to yet another bout of speculation about his future at the club.

"Let's have a bit of history," he said. "I was under discussion last year as well, but I fight on.

"I have a lot of belief though, not only in my work but in this team that I know needs to win a title or a Champions League. I have faith above all in them."

The result continued a miserable series for Inter against their local rivals.

As well as being knocked out of the Champions League by Milan at the semi-final stage last season, Inter lost both last season's league derby games and have not beaten their neighbours as the "home side" since an Italian Cup match in January 1998.

Sharing at top

The win helped Milan join champions Juventus at the top of Serie A as AS Roma were held to a goalless draw at Siena.

Juventus needed an 80th-minute penalty by David Trezeguet to seal a 2-1 win over Bologna at the Delle Alpi stadium.

Lazio returned to winning ways when a deflected Sinisa Mihajlovic free kick in the 64th minute secured a 1-0 win over Chievo, while Parma's good start continued with a 1-0 victory over Sampdoria that took them up to fourth in the standings.

Roma coach Fabio Capello put the blame on the conditions for his third-placed team's scrappy goalless draw with Siena.

"There was a strong wind out there which made it difficult for the players. We'll take the criticism as we took the praise...it is early in the season yet and this was not an easy game," he said.

Brazilian Adriano grabbed his sixth goal of the season for Parma as they beat Sampdoria 1-0 to move level with Roma, two points behind the leaders.

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