Wheels come off Milan's Audi Cup hopes as Bayern impress

29 July 2009 21:48
BERLIN (AFP) - Bayern Munich humiliated Italian giants AC Milan 4-1 on Wednesday as they set up an Audi Cup final date with English champions Manchester United.[LNB]A double from promising youngster Thomas Muller and a goal apiece from German international midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and Frenchman Saer Sene saw Bayern to an ultimately easy victory over Milan.[LNB]The Italian side - whose lack of a big name signing has provoked the ire of their fans as they have seen Kaka and David Beckham leave - saw their only goal come courtesy of a howler by Bayern 'keeper Michael Rensing, who let a tame freekick from Andrea Pirlo slip through his arms into the goal.[LNB]Milan's Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho - left out on Tuesday of the national squad for an upcoming friendly with Estonia - was at fault for Bayern's first goal as he lost possession in the centre circle and the hosts Uruguayan midfielder Jose Ernesto Sosa centred for Muller to shoot home.[LNB]The score remained the same till a crazy final 10 minutes saw four goals scored as first Schweinsteiger scored from 16 metres out with a low shot, then Rensing's blunder a minute later gave Milan some hope.[LNB]However, an increasingly exhausted Milan defence allowed Muller and Sene to round off a convincing victory in front of their French playmaker Franck Ribery, who was watching from the stands as he is suffering from tendinitis in the knee.[LNB]It left their demanding Dutch coach Louis van Gaal more than satisfied.[LNB]"I saw a good Bayern performance this evening (Wednesday), in terms of the style of play and in terms of their patience.[LNB]"We ran this match really well."[LNB]Earlier Manchester United had disposed of Argentinian side Boca Juniors 2-1.[LNB]United looked to have wrapped it up by half-time as they scored both their goals with Anderson scoring a superb first goal for them with a stunning freekick which taken from the right hand side went in at the far corner of the goal.[LNB]Recent multi-million pound signing Antonio Valencia added a second three minutes from half-time as he fired in a powerful shot, though, the Boca keeper should have done better as it was right at him.[LNB]The Argentinian side - who saw their league campaign along with all their rivals suspended earlier on Wednesday because of non payment of wages to players - came back strongly in the second-half inspired by playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme and deservedly got a goal back.[LNB]United hung on, though, and left manager Sir Alex Ferguson content if not overjoyed at their overall performance.[LNB]"I am happy with the way the match went, even if I wouldn't say that we played very well," said the ever demanding Scot.

Source: Eurosport