Serie A: Inter 2-0 AC Milan

MILAN - Diego Milito scored an early goal before the dismissal of Wesley Sneijder and Goran Pandev added a curling free kick after the break to send Inter nine points clear at the top of the Serie A table.

Julio Cesar saved a penalty from Ronaldinho in injury time at the end of the second half as the Nerazzurri completed a memorable league double over their city rivals without conceding a single goal.

José Mourinho's men made a roaring start, Sneijder shaving the post with a superb long-range swerveshot in the opening seconds. Pandev set up a second chance for Sneijder before assisting Milito for the opening goal.

The Macedonian's long-range pass sailed into the path of Milito and Abate made sure it landed at his feet with a disastrous back-header. El Principe raced on goal found the bottom right corner with a low angled shot.

Fast on the break and superior in midfield, Inter created plenty of chances to double their lead and Dida made crucial saves from Milito and Pandev.

The Nerazzurri were dealt a blow on 26 minutes when Sneijder was shown a straight red card for protesting at Gianluca Rocchi's decision to book Lucio for diving when Ambrosini appeared to make contact with the Brazilian defender.

Leonardo made a switch at the break, bringing on Seedorf for Gattuso, and his team made the extra man tell in a strong start to the second period. Julio Cesar was suddenly a busy man and the Inter goalkeeper brilliantly kept out Seedorf's close-range header, protecting his near post moments later as he watched Ronaldinho's volley fly just wide.

Milito briefly interrupted Milan's momentum with a low shot that was saved by Dida, but the Rossoneri were straight back into attack and Borriello saw two headers saved before watching a third go over the bar.

Inter charged forward and Pandev rattled the post after a defence-splitting one-two with Milito. Pandev went one better on 65 minutes when he curled in a free kick to celebrate his first Milan derby in the best possible fashion and earn himself a standing ovation when substituted by Thiago Motta.

The drama spilled over into added time when Milan were awarded a penalty and Lucio was sent off for the second booking after handling the ball. Ronaldinho stepped up to the spot but Julio Cesar guessed right and pulled off a vital save.

Inter 2-0 AC Milan (HT: 1-0)

Scorers: Milito 10, Pandev 65.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio, 25 Samuel, 39 Santon; 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso, 11 Muntari (2 Cordoba 87); 10 Sneijder; 27 Pandev (8 Thiago Motta 67), 22 Milito (45 Balotelli 81).

Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 23 Materazzi, 30 Mancini, 89 Arnautovic.
Coach: José Mourinho.

AC Milan: 1 Dida; 20 Abate, 19 Favalli, 33 Thiago Silva, 77 Antonini (18 Jankulovski 77); 8 Gattuso (10 Seedorf 46), 21 Pirlo, 23 Ambrosini (11 Huntelaar 80); 32 Beckham, 22 Borriello, 80 Ronaldinho.
Subs not used: 12 Abbiati, 4 Kaladze, 9 Inzaghi, 25 Bonera.

Coach: Leonardo.

Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Florence).

Booked: Beckham 3, Lucio 26, Favalli 28, Muntari 38, Pandev 65, Thiago Silva 69.
Sent off: Sneijder 26, Lucio 90+1.

Att.: 80,018.

Julio Cesar 12	Dida
Zanetti 4	Gattuso Gennaro Ivan
26' 91' 93' Lucio 6	Favalli Giuseppe
26' 26' Sneijder 10	Abate Ignazio
38' 89' Muntari 11	Pirlo Andrea
Maicon 13	Borriello Marco
Cambiasso 19	Ambrosini Massimo
10' 83' Milito 22	Beckham David
Samuel 25	Thiago Silva
65' 65' 69' Pandev 27	Antonini Luca
Santon 39	Ronaldinho
substitutes
Toldo 1	Abbiati Christian
89' Cordoba 2	Kaladze Kakha
69' Motta 8	Inzaghi Filippo
Materazzi 23	Seedorf Clarence
Mancini 30	Huntelaar Klaas Jan
83' Balotelli 45	Jankulovski Marek
Arnautovic 89	Bonera Daniele

Mourinho: "We'd only have lost with six..."

Monday, 25 January 2010 00:24:58

MILAN - José Mourinho's Nerazzurri played 65 minutes with ten men and added time with nine as they battled to a famous derby victory over AC Milan. "We showed everything, we showed that we could only have lost this match if we had had six men on the pitch," said the Inter coach. "With six men we would have lost because with seven we would still have won it. But this wasn't the kind of match that coaches dream about. A dream match for coaches is one in which the team wins, plays very well, and so do the opponent and the referee. This is the perfect match.

"We won tonight, Inter played a spectacular game from every point of view. From the first minute you could see we were the stronger team. We won, but we leave here with a strange taste. It was a strange match where my players were fantastic and Milan played their game. There's nothing else to say."



Mourinho was asked for his thoughts on Gianluca Rocchi's refereeing and the decision to send off Wesley Sneijder. He replied: "This is your country, it's your championship. I'm just a foreigner who comes here to do his job. I don't want to add anything else, but I repeat that we would only have lost today if we had been reduced to six men. Milan did everything to leave here with dignity, the match was never easy for them. I haven't heard Leonardo's post-match declarations, but I don't need to. He's a great man and he will be the first to say that Inter deserved to win."

Goran Pandev was set to be substituted by Thiago Motta moments before his goal, but the Macedonian stayed on long enough to score from a free kick. "A match of details? I already said it some time ago: a lucky coach is better than a good coach," said Mourinho. "Goran was about to come off, it was luck and instinct, but someone told me to leave him on the pitch for a few more minutes. Football is a game and sometimes you also need a bit of luck. We are lucky to have Pandev, I am lucky to have some very good players whose only thought was to win, finish with nine men and not with six." 



Mourinho underlined the work done by several of his players ahead of the Milan derby. "Sneijder has worked hard, away from the group, knowing that his only reference point was Pirlo. Thiago Motta did the impossible to play today, perhaps he deserves more consideration from the fans. Leonardo also did everything possible. He played two centre-forwards, but I'm happy that Inzaghi stayed on the bench because Pippo always creates problems for me. Muntari and Motta did everything possible to be on the pitch tonight. Santon did very well and I'm very satisfied with his reply, but unfortunately the game changed and he couldn't push forward. He couldn't create a lot but he did well and I can't find a player of mine who wasn't perfect tonight.

"Championship over? No. I have already realised that they won't let us win the championship. If in Bari they decided not to punish Bonucci's foul with a red and if today Sneijder was sent off, I don't think we can win this Scudetto. Rocchi told me that Sneijder was sent off for the applause and he asked me what I do if a player ironically applauds a decision of mine. No, I replied, I don't send him off because this is part of the game. But it wasn't a coincidence that Mr Rocchi produced the red card."