Shevchenko, Stam head Milan to win over Inter
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-04-07 09:25

European Footballer of the Year Andriy Shevchenko was on target for AC Milan when they beat city rivals Inter 2-0 in their Champions League quarter-final, first leg on Wednesday to make them favourites to reach the last four.

Dutch defender Jaap Stam put Milan ahead on the stroke of halftime with his first goal for the club, rising well to head home a free kick from Andrea Pirlo.

The classy Pirlo provided Milan's second in the 74th minute when his whipped in free kick from wide on Inter's left was met superbly by Shevchenko, the Ukrainian marking his return from six weeks on the sidelines with a potentially vital headed goal.

Inter will feel the result was rough justice after they forced Milan's Brazilian keeper Dida into three saves before Stam scored with his team's first effort on goal.

But Carlo Ancelotti's Milan looked to have the edge over Inter in every department and were comfortably in charge throughout the second half - although they suffered a late scare when Inter's Greek substitute Giorgos Karagounis hit the post from a nearly impossible angle.

Inter, without their leading scorer Adriano, started brightly and produced the first effort on goal in the 10th minute when central defender Sinisa Mihajlovic tested Dida with a characteristically dangerous free kick.

Milan soon gained the ascendancy in midfield, though, with Pirlo keeping the ball moving and Gennaro Gattuso at his tigerish best.

INTER NEAR-MISSES

The Italian champions lacked sharpness in attack, however, with Shevchenko looking rusty after last playing on February 19 when he suffered a fractured cheekbone.

Inter lacked Milan's fluency and composure but nonetheless created the better openings and once again Dida was called into action when in the 34th minute he pushed over a well-struck free kick, this time from Juan Sebastian Veron.

Milan then had Gattuso booked for handball in the 34th minute, ruling him out of Tuesday's second leg.

Shortly before the break Inter produced their best move of the game which ended with Julio Ricardo Cruz finding enough space in the Milan area to curl the ball goalwards but Dida did well again with a diving save to his left.

In the last move of the half, Milan grabbed the lead with Stam's glancing header inside the far post.

Shortly after the restart Mihajlovic went close with another free kick, which whistled over the crossbar but Milan's grip on the game gradually tightened.

Inter coach Roberto Mancini brought on Christian Vieri for Cruz in the 55th minute but the Italy international, still suffering with muscle problems, failed to worry the Milan defence even after Alessandro Nesta had to go off with a knock.

Milan looked comfortable but had created little until they grabbed the second goal 16 minutes from time from an almost identical set piece to their opener.

Shevchenko then nearly put the tie beyond Inter with a 20-metre left foot drive that Toldo managed to tip over the bar.

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