City rivals fail to break the ice

AC Milan and Inter Milan drew the opening leg of their Champions League semi-final 0-0 on Wednesday leaving everything to play for when they...

AC Milan and Inter Milan drew the opening leg of their Champions League semi-final 0-0 on Wednesday leaving everything to play for when they re-convene at their shared San Siro ground for the second leg next Tuesday.

Milan will be disappointed not to have been able to make the most of their domination, particularly in the second half, but having not conceded Inter an ‘away goal’ they know a scoring draw when they are officially the away team will be enough to see them into the final at Old Trafford on May 28.

‘We have the advantage’

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was satisfied with the slight advantage his team gained after a 0-0 draw with Inter Milan in the opening leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday. The result means Milan can reach the May 28th final with a win or a draw in the second leg which, although at the same San Siro stadium the Milanese sides share, is officially an ‘away’ match for Milan. ‘‘At the start we weren’t able to close Inter down well and we had some problems. After that spell, though, and especially in the second half, we were well on top but we couldn’t get the goal we deserved,” he said.

Despite the absence of goals and a scarcity of real scoring chances — a disappointment given the array of attacking talent on display — there was rarely a dull moment in a game played at a high-pace and in a good spirit, despite the intense atmosphere generated by the 95-year rivalry between two of Italy’s top clubs.

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Inter’s Uruguayan striker Alvaro Recoba failed to make the most of two good first half chances for his side but it is Milan who will feel more frustrated.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men were unable to turn their midfield supremacy, built on the fiery determination of Gennaro Gattuso and the silky touches of Rui Costa, into a busier night for Inter keeper Francesco Toldo. Too often — against a well-disciplined Inter back line — Milan were tempted into harmless long-range shots and Inter coach Hector Cuper will feel his decision to play with three central defenders paid off as neither of Milan’s strikers Andriy Shevchenko or Filippo Inzaghi were able to find much space.

‘We had good chances’

Inter’s Hector Cuper, said: ‘‘We had two good chances in the first half and I thought we played quite well. It changed in the second half though and Milan played well.’’ Cuper remained upbeat about his team’s chances of reaching the Old Trafford final. ‘‘I don’t see a danger for us in the second leg. We know we have to win the game and I think it will be a similar match. Our confidence is excellent,’’ said Cuper. The Argentine, who has never lost a two-legged tie in the Champions League, took Valencia to two successive finals, losing both, before joining Inter.

After a colourful choreographed display of flags and banners from the two sets of supporters had set the scene and sparked a crescendo of noise before the kick off, it was Inter who made the first positive move.

Recoba latched on to a neat flick from Hernan Crespo but from the edge of the penalty area shot weakly at Milan keeper Dida. The little Uruguayan forward lacked power again ten minutes later when, unmarked, he headed a Sergio Conceicao cross softly into the arms of the Brazilian keeper.

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In between those efforts from Recoba, Milan had gone close through Shevchenko who forced a save out of Toldo with a shot from the left of the penalty area after being set up by Georgian full back Kakha Kaladze.

After the interval Milan stepped up the pace, launching a wave of attacks at the Inter defence. Rui Costa tried two shots from distance that flashed wide and then Shevchenko was unable to turn the ball past Toldo at the near post after a fine run and cross from Kaladze. (Reuters)