AC Milan beat Inter Milan 2-0

Milan:

AC Milan were in high spirits following their 2-0 win over rivals Inter Milan in the first leg of their Champions League quarter final tie at the San Siro Stadium on Wednesday. Goals from Jaap Stam and Andriy Shevchenko have taken the 2003 European champions to the brink of the semi-finals and Inter manager Roberto Mancini knows that his side will have to raise their performance for the "home" leg of the tie. The former Italy international was left to rue the two set pieces that have steered AC Milan to the brink of the last four. Mancini's opposite number Carlo Ancelotti was pleased with his side's performance, although Inter almost took an early lead from a Sinisa Mihajlovic free kick. Putting up a fight AC Milan may lead 2-0 at the halfway stage of the tie, but Ancelotti expects Inter to come out fighting in next week's second leg. Taking the initiative in the first leg would always be the key to the final outcome in the tie, and Ancelotti knows that another sound defensive performance will see the Rossoneri through to the semi-finals. The two Milan rivals' last meeting in the Champions League came two seasons ago, when eventual winners AC Milan beat Inter at the semi-final stage on the away goals rule. (AP)