AC Milan wins Italian Super Cup after classic derby at Bird's Nest
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Xinhua, August 7, 2011
AC Milan rallied from one goal down to beat feud Inter Milan 2-1 to win the 2011 Italian Super Cup after an exciting derby at a fully-packed Bird's Nest here on Saturday evening.
Wesley Sneijder broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute for the Nerazzurri with a powerful shot from the edge of the box to beat Christian Abbiati.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic equalized in the 61st minute when the tall striker headed Clarence Seedorf's pinpoint center into the empty net at the far post.
Kevin Prince Boateng netted home the winner on 69 minutes when he slided in a rebound after substitute forward Pato's sharp diagonal shot hit the near post.
AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri used a 433 formation, while Inter boss Gian Peiro Gasperini took a 361 starting eleven.
The two sides had a even first half, Inter's attacking power from the left flank seemed to be more effective compared to the opposing front pair of Ibrahimovic and Robinho, with Ricardo Alvarez and Joel Chukwuma Obi threatening their rivals from time to time.
Ibrahimovic missed a good chance to level the score before the end of the first period with a header hit the post.
After the break, both teams quickened the pace. AC Milan gradually took some advantage with fine combination upfront. Gasperini brought on Pato to replace Robinho, and the in-form Brazilian tried to challenge the opposing defence with his speed and technique.
Inter couldn't find their form after Boateng's goal, and had to taste the failure before some fervent 80,000 spectators.
The Italian Super Cup will still be held in the Bird's Nest for the next two seasons before the start of the Serie A, which means the event will create more business value and sporting fever in the place where the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games was held.
More and more Chinese clubs of different Chinese cities began to invite top European clubs to play friendlies in the summer break.
Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid all came to China to play with Chinese local teams this summer, and the clash between the Italian feuds was the climax one. Both the organizers and the foreign clubs can make benefits from these business matches.
According to a senior organizer of this years Italian Super Cup, the ticket sale of the game may reach an amount of more than 60 million Yuan, and the final result may likely to surpass the record high 70 million Yuan from the 2009 version Super Cup between Inter and Lazio in the National Stadium, one year after the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.
More than 40 TV stations, and more than 100 companies of various kinds of media from different nations and regions covered the Milan Derby. Adding the advertisement profits, the total commercial revenue may be higher.
"We are also considering to hold the Spanish Super Cup at the Bird's Nestle in the future," said Wang Hui, a senior official of the organizing company.
"From the two Italian Super Cup held here, we think it's a successful example both in sporting and commerce."
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