Match report: AC Milan 1-0 Internazionale

With Mauro Zarate’s double against Torino sending Lazio to the top of Serie A this afternoon, the Milan derby - already one of football’s biggest occasions - took on extra significance. Carlo Ancelotti’s men needed a win simply to stay in touch with the Scudetto race, while a win for the Nerazzurri would see them return to the summit.

It was to be Milan’s night.

The first half was a pulsating, end-to-end affair. Neither team had notably more chances or possession, but Milan looked a touch more dangerous. Three scintillating Brazilians were the ringleaders every time the Rossoneri bore down on Inter’s goal.

There was little excitement early on, but for the occasional glimpse of brilliance from Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and one or two suggestions that the ‘Golden Trident’ of Kaka, Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato could do some damage. But in the 12th minute, Nerazzurri defender Marco Materazzi pole-axed Kaka as the pair challenged for a header in the Inter penalty area. The referee was unmoved.

Five minutes later Ibrahimovic found himself through on the Milan goal, played in by Cristian Chivu, but mis-controlled. The Rossoneri quickly replied, with Ronaldinho and Kaka working a chance for Pato, who struck well from a tight angle but could not get on the scoresheet.

The same three caused havoc after 25 minutes. Kaka hit the byline with a storming run, and his cutback in the direction of Pato was deflected straight to Ronaldinho. His powerful shot was blocked well, but certainly gave the crowd something to shout about. The younger two have learned a thing or two about niggling fouls from Dinho, too.

And it was Ronaldinho who broke the deadlock in the 37th minute. It was a goal straight out of Brazil. Kaka sprung Inter’s offside trap (by being offside, basically) and floated a sublime cross to the back post, where his compatriot rose forcefully to thump a header into Julio Cesar’s top corner. The match had been evenly matched up until that point.

The first real chance of the second half came in the 52nd minute. Inter winger Mancini found himself free in the area and on the end of an in-swinging free kick from deep. He couldn’t get enough of a touch to glance the ball past a static Christian Abbiati. Once again, the Rossoneri followed defensive good fortune with attacking incisiveness, Kaka winning a corner from another powerful run into Inter’s box.

Jose Mourinho took a gamble on the hour, introducing Julio Cruz and Adriano in place of Mancini and Materazzi. Such bold changes worked well for Mourinho at Chelsea, and putting his faith in Adriano showed how far the Brazilian has come in the past few months.

But Inter began to look ragged shortly after the substitution. Wayward forward passing was desperate and over-ambitious, and was often happening under little or no pressure. Mourinho’s men also began to pick up silly bookings. Patrick Vieira and Ricardo Quaresma were carded in quick succession.

Nicolas Burdisso made matters worse for Jose with 15 minutes left. The Argentine was dismissed for his second bookable offence, leaving the Nerazzuri a goal and a man down, with little time to do anything about it. Amazingly, Marco Materazzi was also shown a red card - while sitting on the bench after being substituted. Matrix has got one hell of a gob on him.

Andriy Shevchenko came on near the end, and almost doubled Milan’s lead with a drive from inside the area, which was well saved by Cesar. In the third minute of stoppage time, Adriano wasted a golden opportunity to equalise, putting a free header wide of the near post.

So what have I learned tonight? Well, Inter and Milan players are all very friendly until frustration sets in. Massimo Ambrosini is a bit better than I often give him credit for, and Alexandre Pato is surely the most exciting young talent in world football.

Oh, and Inter are not going to stroll to a Scudetto win. And that’s exciting for the rest of us.