Italian powerhouses AC Milan lived up to their pre-tournament promise by beating Urawa Red Diamonds 1-0 to reach the final in the Club World Cup today.

Brazilian striker Kaka, who won the prestigious French Ballon d’Or for the Player of the Year, produced a pin-point cross from the left for midfielder Clarence Seedorf’s goal in the 68th minute.

Although the European champions allowed Urawa to hit the first couple of shots at goal, they took control after 10 minutes with Andrea Pirlo firing a shot on a free kick, which keeper Ryota Tsuzuki dived to save.

Soon afterwards, skipper Massimo Ambrosini just missed a header from a left corner, and then Pirlo and Ambrosini failed to find the net, while Massimo Oddo lacked accuracy in his cross from the right.

Roared on by a partisan home crowd, Urawa fought back bravely before the break, but Takahito Soma’s shots were too long and Keita Suzuki’s shot from the edge of the area was saved by Brazilian keeper Dida.

The three-time Inter-Continental Cup winners dominated the second half, attacking the Japanese goal repeatedly with shots by Marek Jankulovski, Seedorf, Kaka and Alberto Gilardino.

And it was just a question of when the Italians would score the first goal.

In the final on Sunday, AC Milan will take on Boca Juniors of Argentina, the winners over Etoile Sahel of Tunisia yesterday, vying for the first Club World Cup for Europe.

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