Italian powerhouses AC Milan lived up to their pre-tournament promise by beating Urawa Red Diamonds 1-0 to reach the final in the Club World Cup yesterday.
Brazilian striker Kaka, who won the prestigious Ballon d'Or for Europe's player of the year, produced a pin-point cross from the left for midfielder Clarence Seedorf's goal in the 68th minute.
Although the European champions allowed Urawa to hit the first couple of shots at goal, they took control after 10 minutes with Andrea Pirlo firing in a shot from a free kick, which keeper Ryota Tsuzuki dived to save.
Soon afterwards, skipper Massimo Ambrosini just missed a header from a corner and then Pirlo and Ambrosini failed to find the net as Massimo Oddo lacked accuracy in his cross from the right.
Roared on by a partisan home crowd, Urawa fought back bravely before the break, but Takahito Soma's shots were from too great a distance and Keita Suzuki's shot from the edge of the area was saved by Brazilian keeper Dida.
The three-times Inter-Continental Cup winners dominated the second half, attacking the Japanese goal repeatedly with shots by Marek Jankulovski, Seedorf, Kaka and Alberto Gilardino.
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