Serie A champions Inter Milan humiliated 10-man
AC Milan 4-0 to emphatically earn the derby spoils
on Saturday.
Inter were short of ideas in last weekend's opening 1-1 draw
with Bari but Jose Mourinho's side surged to victory thanks to some
neat interplay and Gennaro Gattuso's bizarre sending off.
Thiago Motta coolly curled in the first goal on 29 minutes after
quick passes from fellow close-season signings Samuel Eto'o and
Diego Milito.
Former Genoa frontman Milito then doubled the lead from the
penalty spot at a packed San Siro.
Gattuso had hauled down the runaway Eto'o to concede the penalty
and the Inter bench, who were initially jumping for joy, reacted
furiously when he was only booked.
The Italy midfielder then asked to come off with an injury but
substitute Clarence Seedorf was not ready, meaning Gattuso stayed
on the pitch long enough to hack down surprise debutant Wesley
Sneijder and finally receive his marching orders.
HORROR HALF
Rookie Milan coach Leonardo's horror half was compounded by
Inter right back Maicon finishing off another fine one-two move
with Argentina's Milito, to make it 3-0 just before the break.
In the second half Leonardo threw on Seedorf, new signing Klaas
Jan Huntelaar and Massimo Ambrosini, who started on the bench
despite being club captain following the retirement of the watching
Paolo Maldini.
The trio stemmed the tide for a while until Dejan Stankovic
blasted in from 25 metres midway through the second period to
further embarrass Milan, who had looked bright in their 2-1 win at
Siena on the opening day last Saturday.
Inter coach Mourinho had said Dutch playmaker Sneijder would not
play, having only signed from Real Madrid on Friday, but it was a
typical ploy from the charismatic Portuguese.
Sneijder had two good efforts from distance but wasted some dead
ball situations after starting in place of Ghana midfielder Sulley
Muntari, who Mourinho has said may be suffering with his energy
levels because he is fasting for Ramadan.
soccernet.
