European champions Inter Milan swept into the final of the Club World Cup with a convincing 3-0 semi-final defeat of Asian counterparts Seongnam Ilhwa here last night
European champions Inter Milan swept into the final of the Club World Cup with a convincing 3-0 semi-final defeat of Asian counterparts Seongnam Ilhwa here last night.
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| Inter Milan's Diego Milito celebrates his goal against South Korea's Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in their 2010 FIFA Club World Cup semi-final at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi. Inter won 3-0. pic/AFP |
Argentine striker Diego Milito set up 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.
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 guided the ball beyond Seongnam goalkeeper Jung Sung-Ryong.
