Kaka inspires Milan victory

Kaka emphasised his claim to the FIFA World Player of the Year title with an inspired performance to lead AC Milan to a 4-2 win over Boca Juniors in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday evening.

The Brazilian, who has been nominated for the award along with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, scored with a fine solo effort to seal the win while also setting up two goals for Filippo Inzaghi as Milan cruised to victory.

Alessandro Nesta was also on the score sheet for the European champions, but it was Kaka who stole the show just 24 hours before FIFA announce the winner of the annual individual award in Zurich.

Milan's win, which was built on an impressive second half showing, is the first in the competition by a European team since it was inaugurated in 1999.

Inzaghi opened the scoring in the 21st minute as Kaka ran at the Argentinian defence, firing off a shot that was blocked before squaring the ball to Inzaghi, who scored with ease.

Milan's lead was to last barely a minute as Claudio Morel Rodriguez sent over a cross from the left and Rodrigo Palacio came in at the near post to send his header across Dida and into the far corner.

Within five minutes of the restart Andrea Pirlo's low free-kick was missed by Massimo Ambrosini only for the ball to fall at the feet of Nesta, who hammered his shot high into the corner of the goal.

Kaka took on the Argentinian defence single-handedly in the 61st minute before cutting inside Jonatan Maidana and pushing a low shot under the body of goalkeeper Mauricio Caranta.

In the 71st minute, Clarence Seedorf's surge forward ended with the Dutchman rolling the ball to the feet of Kaka and his lay-off found Inzaghi unmarked 10 yards from goal and the former Italy international could not miss.

Milan's joy was tempered 13 minutes from time when Kakha Kaladze was sent off for a nasty tackle on Leandro Gracian and with five minutes to go an own goal by Ambrosini following Pablo Ledesma's shot reduced the deficit. Just minutes later Ledesma joined Kaladze in taking an early bath when he was sent off for a foul on the outstanding Kaka.