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Diego Milito scored twice as Inter Milan beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in the Champions League final in Madrid on Saturday to end a 45-year wait for its third title.
The Argentina striker scored in the 35th and 70th minutes at the Bernabeu Stadium to add the title to Inter’s triumphs back in 1964 and ’65.
Inter dominated the game throughout and the victory saw coach Jose Mourinho complete the treble of the Champions League, the Serie A title and the Italian Cup, and became the third coach to win the title with two different clubs after winning the competition with FC Porto in 2004.
The loss meant that Bayern missed out on the treble, having also won the domestic league and cups.
Although Bayern had chances early in the second half, Inter’s defence was rock solid as it has been all through the competition, especially when it knocked defending champion Barcelona out in the semifinal.
The triumph was also a big one for Mourinho amid speculation that he might walk out on Inter and move to Real Madrid, the club that plays at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
The first half was a tale of the contrasting fortunes of two Dutchmen.
Bayern’s Arjen Robben, left rolling on the ground after three solid tackles by Inter defenders in the first 13 minutes, earned himself three shooting chances but couldn’t recreate the accurate strikes that eliminated Fiorentina and Manchester United.
Inter’s Wesley Sneijder, by contrast, forced Bayern ‘keeper Joerg Butt into a punching save and set up the first half strike by Milito.
From a huge kick upfield by Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar, Milito headed the ball on to Sneijder who returned it immediately with a superbly accurate pass through the Bayern defence. Milito held off a defender before firing past the ‘keeper from 12 metres, sparking wild celebrations among the Inter fans at the other end of the stadium.
It should have been 2-0 just before halftime when Sneijder and Milito combined again. This time the Argentina striker put the Dutchman clear but his shot was blocked by Butt.
In an amazing sequence in the opening minute of the second half, Bayern almost equalised and then went close to falling 2-0 behind.
Bayern opened up the Inter defence and Hamit Altintop presented Thomas Mueller with a clear shooting chance only for the 20-year-old striker to see his shot bounce off the ‘keeper’s legs.
Inter survived that scare to break out at the other end. Milito burst down the left and crossed to Goran Pandev, whose left-footed lob was acrobatically finger-tipped over the bar by Butt.
Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar matched that when Robben’s shot from the corner of the area appeared to be curling inside the far post but the Brazilian dived to push it away.
It was a crucial save as Inter broke out to score a second which effectively killed off the game.
Samuel Eto’o’s pass found Milito on the left and the striker twisted past Daniel van Buyten before firing inside the far post in front of the Inter fans.
Having become only the third coach to have won Europe’s premier competition with two different clubs – he won it with Porto in 2004 – Mourinho said he wants to go one better.
“I want to be the only coach to win the Champions League with three different clubs,” he told Rai TV.
“It’s more likely that I will leave rather than stay.”
Mourinho, who joined Inter two years ago, and has also won two Serie A titles and an Italian Cup, admitted he is being courted by Real Madrid.
“Only Real are interested in me but I haven’t spoken with anyone and I haven’t signed anything. I promised I’d speak after the final.
“When I win I don’t stop and here (in Italy) I have won everything. I’ve won the Champions League with two clubs and I can do it with three.
“There are many things (in Italy) that I haven’t liked and for three to four months I’ve been thinking of going.”
Mourinho’s players, celebrating an historic treble of Serie A, Italian Cup and Champions League titles, are resigned to the coach leaving.
“Unfortunately it’s true,” said captain Javier Zanetti. “The coach is leaving. This victory is his.”
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