Inters special one

It was also a personal triumph for Inters masterful coach Jose Mourinho who etched his name alongside footballs great club managers by becoming only the third man to win the European Cup with two clubs.

Beaten Bayern boss Louis van Gaal,whose team missed out on winning the first German treble,said the better team had won. Inter played excellent football tonight and what we did wasnt enough. They deserved to win.

World Cup-bound Milito,who had spent much of his career as a journeyman striker,has reached the heights this season with 22 goals in his first Serie A campaign for Inter. He scored the goal that clinched the domestic title last weekend,got the winner in the Italian Cup final and sent the Inter fans wild in Madrid with a clinically-taken opening goal that set them on their way to their latest triumph.

Its a joy Ive never experienced. Its incredible. I am so happy for Inter because we wanted this so badly. We are so happy and its a unique sensation, Milito told reporters before joining the celebrations that lasted for almost an hour after Inter received the cup from UEFA president Michel Platini,whose idea to switch the final from a Wednesday to a Saturday was rewarded with a memorable occasion.

The disconsolate Bayern players,who had already won a league and cup double,could only ponder what might have been.

Milito set Inter on their way when he nodded goalkeeper Julio Cesars long punt down to Wesley Sneijder,ran on to the Dutchmans pinpoint through ball and shimmied to make space before lifting a shot into the net over Hans Joerg-Butt. His second was also superbly taken leaving Bayern defender Daniel van Buyten bamboozled and beaten before firing past Butt into the far corner of the net.

Before the decisive second strike,which came after English referee Howard Webb played the advantage during the build-up,Bayern twice came close to an equaliser. Striker Thomas Mueller was denied by Julio Cesar at the start of the second half and pacy Dutch winger Arjen Robben also failed with an attempt to bring the scores level.

Inter had also gone close to more goals,especially from Sneijder just before halftime,but they were denied by some excellent goalkeeping from Butt.

The other duel

The build-up was dominated by the coaching duel between Van Gaal and his one time Barcelona assistant Mourinho but almost from kick-off it was clear both coaches had given the same instructions to their team go for goals.

Mourinho opted for a three-man attack of Samuel Etoo,Goran Pandev and Milito while Van Gaal,without suspended playmaker Franck Ribery,trusted his attack to Ivica Olic and Thomas Mueller with Hamit Altintop and Robben providing the ammunition.

Inters attempts obviously proved more fruitful but even before Milito put them ahead,their attack looked sharper and they always seemed the more likely to gain the early advantage.

Etoo and Milito were a constant threat to the Bayern defence,while Olic and Mueller ultimately made little impression even though Robben toiled hard on the right wing and provided them with several opportunities.

Fears the game might turn into a sterile,defensive affair were unfounded and Inter,who won the European Cup in 1964 and 1965,claimed a long overdue third crown with a performance of passion,skill and rugged flair. Their display was typified by excellent skipper Javier Zanetti who will never forget his 700th match for the club.