Inzaghi hat-trick as AC Milan rout Deportivo
A hat-trick from in-form striker Filippo Inzaghi and a long-range strike from Clarence Seedorf gave AC Milan a stunning 4-0 away win over Deportivo Coruna in Champions League group G on Tuesday.
Seedorf broke the deadlock with his crisp 20-metre drive, but it was the combination of the deadly finishing of the Milan marksman and the defence-splitting passes of the magnificent Rui Costa that proved to be the key to the comprehensive victory.
Inzaghi's hat-trick took his tally of goals in European competition to 40, one more than the former Italian record set by one-time Inter Milan striker Alessandro Altobelli.
The five-times European champions, who won 2-1 at home to Lens last week, now top the group ahead of Deportivo who keep their second place thanks to a 1-1 draw between the French side and Bayern Munich.
Neither side gave much away in the early stages as they sought to establish control of the game.
Deportivo defender Noureddine Naybet shadowed former team mate Rivaldo's every move, while Italian centre-back Alessandro Nesta made sure the Milan defence closed down the Spanish side's early attacks.
But just as Depor looked to be gaining the upper hand Dutch international Seedorf picked up a pass from Rui Costa on the left, cut inside two defenders and unleashed a firm right foot drive that fizzed past keeper Juanmi into the bottom corner on 17 minutes.
Seedorf's goal settled the Italian side and with Rivaldo and Rui Costa at the helm they began to stroke the ball around the midfield and prise open the Depor defence.
Deportivo showed plenty of endeavour, but they missed the imagination of their injured playmaker Juan Carlos Valeron and looked a mere shadow of the side that beat Bayern Munich 3-2 in their opening match last week.
The Galicians were hit once more just after the half hour mark when Rui Costa exchanged passes with Croatian defender Dario Simic before clipping a teasing pass into the heart of the area.
POUNCED
Depor midfielder Roberto Acuna failed to clear and the alert Inzaghi pounced to strike home at the second attempt.
Javier Irureta's side could have narrowed Milan's lead on the stroke of halftime, but some last-ditch Milan defending cleared goal-bound shots from Lionel Scaloni and Roy Makaay.
Inzaghi then put the game beyond Depor's reach when he struck twice more early in the second half.
He slotted home a magnificent through-ball from Rui Costa on 56 minutes and then ran on to another brilliant pass from the Portuguese playmaker to complete his hat-trick six minutes later and score his eighth goal in little over a week.
Inzaghi's opposite number Makaay had to survive off scraps as the alert Milan defence kept the Depor midfield at bay and reduced them to a series of long distance pot-shots at goal.
Although Milan keeper Dida produced a brilliant one-handed save to deny Naybet from pulling one back for Depor early in the second half the Italian side's stranglehold on the game rarely looked in danger.
