Kaká inspires Milan to world title

AC Milan were crowned FIFA Club World Cup champions after they defeated Argentinian side CA Boca Juniors 4-2 in Yokohama, Japan.

Kaká brilliance
Ballon d'Or winner Kaká orchestrated the victory, scoring his side's third goal as well as setting up two for Filippo Inzaghi as the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League winners became the first European side to win the revamped tournament.

Turning point
Milan took the lead after 21 minutes when an astute Kaká pass found Inzaghi who finished well but the South American side were level a minute later through a Rodrigo Palacio header. However, the match turned just after half-time when centre-back Alessandro Nesta volleyed in and Kaká embarked on a superb solo run before finishing past Boca goalkeeper Mauricio Caranta.

Inzaghi double
With 20 minutes left, Kaká crossed for Inzaghi who grabbed his second. Both teams were then reduced to ten men in the final stages as Milan's Georgian defender Kakha Kaladze and Boca's Pablo Ledesma were given their marching orders. Even a late Massimo Ambrosini own goal could not take the gloss off the Italian side's performance as they avenged their defeat on penalties to Boca in the tournament's forerunner in 2003.