Kaka led Italy's AC Milan to a 4-2 victory over Argentina's Boca Juniors in the Club World Club final yesterday.
The Brazilian set up two goals for Filippo Inzaghi and scored a wonderful solo effort to give the European champions a record fourth club world title.
"I'm really satisfied," Kaka said. "This was the only trophy I wanted that was missing and I can't put my feelings into words. I've managed to win all the trophies that I thought would be difficult to win."
PHOTO: AP
Milan avenged their penalty shootout defeat to Boca in the 2003 Toyota Cup, the forerunner to the Club World Cup.
Milan played the last 13 minutes with 10 men after Georgia defender Kakha Kaladze was sent off for a harsh tackle on Leandro Gracian.
Kaka cut in from the left and teased Jonatan Maidana before slipping the ball under goalkeeper Mauricio Caranta to put Milan 3-1 ahead in the 61st.
The Brazilian had caused similar panic in the 21st by running at the Boca defense before crossing for Inzaghi to sidefoot into an empty net for the opener.
Rodrigo Palacio equalized a minute later with a header at the near post from a cross by Claudio Morel Rodriguez.
Defender Alessandro Nesta scored a rare goal in the 50th to put Milan 2-1 ahead after Boca failed to clear a free kick from the right by Andrea Pirlo.
Inzaghi shot into an empty net in the 71st after another pass from Kaka for Milan's fourth goal.
Massimo Ambrosini scored an own goal in the 85th before Boca substitute Pablo Ledesma was sent off in the dying stages for a tackle on Kaka.
Milan previously won the club world title in 1969, 1989 and 1990.
The Serie A giants picked up US$5 million prize money for the victory and became the first European team to win the revamped competition.
Brazil's Internacional downed Barcelona 1-0 in last year's final, and Sao Paulo beat Liverpool by the same margin in 2005.
A seven-year-old horse had to be euthanized on Friday after breaking its back on the final fence of a Grand National steeplechase race that it won despite sustaining the serious injury. It follows the death of four horses at the Cheltenham Festival last month — including one after the prestigious Gold Cup. Gold Dancer was competing in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase during Ladies Day at Aintree’s Grand National Festival. The horse managed to cross the finish line approximately four lengths ahead of runner-up Regent’s Stroll. “The winner of our second race of the day, Gold Dancer, was pulled up after
Taiwanese gymnast Tang Chia-hung on Sunday topped the men’s horizontal bar event at the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) World Cup in Osijek, Croatia, scoring 15.233 to take his third title this season. Tang delivered an outstanding performance in the final, earning a difficulty score of 6.500 and an execution score of 8.633 with a 0.1 stick bonus. His closest competitor was Milad Karimi of Kazakhstan, who finished second with 14.933 points. It was Tang’s third gold medal in the FIG World Cup series this year, following his horizontal bar wins in Azerbaijan on March 8, and in Turkey on March
Hans Niemann declares he would become a “stone cold killer” in a Netflix documentary released on Tuesday about his feud with five-time classical world champion Magnus Carlsen, a pledge that injects new edge into the lingering fallout from the cheating scandal that shook elite chess. “I’m gonna be a stone cold killer the rest of my life,” the US’ Niemann says in the film. “I’m going to become the best player in the world, and no one is going to believe that now, but this clip will play over and over again in 10 years — just wait.” “I just
The Daredevils yesterday took eight catches in the final as they eked out a victory in the Taiwan Cricket Triangular Tournament against PCCT at Yingfeng Cricket Ground in Taipei’s Songshan District. PCCT’s batting lineup collapsed after they asked the Daredevils to bowl in the T20 decider of the weekend tournament that also involved the Formosa Cricket Club. PCCT were bundled out for 76 in 16.2 overs against a disciplined Daredevils attack. Ninad Malwade was the top scorer in the innings with 21, but he was among those who offered chances to the fielders. Shane Ferreira and Jason Cameron took three wickets each, with