AC Milan see off Inter to lift Supercup

BEIJING, Aug 7, 2011 (AFP) - AC Milan came from a goal down to defeat bitter city rivals Inter 2-1 thanks to a quick-fire second-half double to lift the Italian Supercup in Beijing on Saturday.

BEIJING, Aug 7, 2011 (AFP) - AC Milan came from a goal down to defeat bitter city rivals Inter 2-1 thanks to a quick-fire second-half double to lift the Italian Supercup in Beijing on Saturday.

Manchester United target Wesley Sneijder, whose Inter future has been subject of intense speculation, put Inter ahead on 21 minutes at the "Bird's Nest" Olympic Stadium in the Chinese capital.

AFP - Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder (R) competes with AC Milan during the Italian Super Cup 2011 football match at China's National Stadium
AFP - Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder (R) competes with AC Milan during the Italian Super Cup 2011 football match at China's National Stadium

His delightful free-kick, which he bent around a two-man AC Milan wall and into the top corner, showed exactly why the English champions -- and reportedly their money-bags rivals Manchester City -- are chasing the talented Dutchman.

Inter coach Gian Piero Gasperini afterwards had to repel persistent questions about the midfield schemer's future.

Gasperini said he was disappointed his side has failed to capitalise on their first-half dominance during which striker Samuel Eto'o -- who has also been linked with the blue half of Manchester -- went close after being set up by Sneijder.

But Serie A champions AC were a different proposition in the second period, particularly after the Brazilian attacker Pato was sent on for his ineffectual countryman Robinho, the former Real Madrid man.

With Pato terrorising the Inter defence, AC drew level on the hour when former Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic powered in a towering header off a pin-point cross from ageless midfield war-horse Clarence Seedorf.

And just eight minutes later Kevin-Prince Boateng scored what turned out to be the winner in the traditional Italian season curtain-raiser after he fired in the rebound from a Pato drive that pinged off an Inter post.

As the clock ran down, it was AC who looked the more likely to score, until Sneijder struck once again with just moments to go -- only to see his effort disallowed for off-side.

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