A crossbar and a goal. That was the Diego Milito of old we saw tonight as the Argentinian striker gave Inter victory in this mini-derby against AC Milan, which meant the Nerazzurri claimed the 2011 edition of the TIM Trophy. Winning this pre-season triangular tournament might not mean much once the season gets underway, but you always come in for criticism when you lose. Gian Piero Gasperini's Inter lifted this year's cup after earning 5 points: 2 for beating Juventus on penalties and 3 against Massimo Allegri's AC Milan. If this is a snapshot of the Nerazzurri moment then we can see that this team is starting to find its shape as it gets its best players back. With an altered tactical DNA perhaps but the same old character. And what can we say about Milito? He has written a huge part of this club's recent past and now, having gone through the depths of misfortune last season, he looks ready to write yet more wonderful pages of Inter's history. There's certainly plenty of promise as we head into the final pre-season fixture next Sunday, in Switzerland, against Olympiakos.
The match. The third and final match of the 2011 TIM Trophy at the Stadio San Nicola gave fans the chance to see Cambiasso, Lucio and Milito making their first appearances for Inter this pre-season. Faraoni replaced Obi on the left after the Nigerian had to pull out with an ankle problem just before the game. Jonathan - in need of match practice as he works his way back to full fitness - started his second game of the day. AC Milan fielded a stronger line-up than the one they had put out against Juventus.
The game was slow to begin with and the first chance fell to the Rossoneri after 9 minutes: Cassano's vision set up Emanuelson, whose low angled drive was kept out by Castellazzi. Our dear Diego, marksman extraordinaire of the Treble season, showed what he can do in the 12th minute; after winning a free kick on the edge of the box (for a foul by Oddo), he stepped up and struck an ever-so-sweet effort that deserved to hit the net rather than the bar.
Inter, with birthday boy Cambiasso motoring along in the engine room, upped their pressing game and this helped the side to be more compact and more reactive, but the third chance went AC Milan's way, as they hit on the break (a repeat of what had been seen against Juventus). Castellazzi then did superbly to keep out Ki Boateng's close-range header following Abate's run and cross.
Gasperini decided to mix things up and he switched his two wide forwards, with Castaignos moving to the right and Alvarez to the left. Also worthy of note was captain Zanetti featuring in the centre of defence (on the left, the same as against Juve) – a role we saw him play in that unforgettable Champions League comeback victory in Kiev.
Inter made the breakthrough in the 28th minute: Cambiasso played a forward ball looking for Milito, who read his compatriot's intentions perfectly; Bonera made a hash of it and the striker got an exquisite touch on the ball to knock it past the Amelia. 1-0 and all very nice. It must be said that AC Milan had several youngsters in their side, partly due to players being unavailable and partly through choice, but when Inter are missing some of their most important players it only gets whispered.
Sneijder came on the the last 15 minutes and slotted into midfield. In the 37th minute, he played a delightful ball for Castaignos, only for the younger Dutchman's inexperience to come to the fore and the chance was gone.
Inter were holding a high defensive line with a four-man rear guard and in the 39th minute Rossoneri youngster Ganz (the son of Maurizio, who played for both Milan clubs during his career) won a free kick on the edge of the area, which Oddo fired into the wall. Ambrosini had one last attempt on goal from an impossible distance before the curtains closed on the third 45 minutes of this tournament, meaning that Inter won the match and the trophy. Next stop: Geneva.
