Football: Milan power to final

Milan. .3

Monaco. 0

MILAN reached their fourth European Cup final in the past six years last night with a vibrant display which swept aside Monaco's dogged and at times cynical resistance. The Italian champions scored three superb goals, despite playing 50 minutes with 10 men, and only the realisation that they will be without two key defenders for the final against Barcelona on 18 May clouded a memorable night in the San Siro.

Milan's centre-back Alessandro Costacurta was sent off five minutes before half-time for a foul on Monaco's German striker Jurgen Klinsmann. Television replays suggested that Klinsmann had hardly been touched and the resulting red card incensed the crowd.

Thirteen minutes earlier Costacurta had been shown a yellow card for a foul on Klinsmann after which the German writhed on the ground in agony. Milan's other central defender, Franco Baresi, will also miss the final after being booked for tripping Youri Djorkaeff. Fabio Capello, the Milan coach, said: 'This rule must be changed. Players like Costacurta and Baresi deserve to play in the final.'

Milan went ahead in the 14th minute when their French midfielder Marcel Desailly headed home a corner. They made it 2-0 three minutes after the break when Roberto Donadoni rolled a free-kick 30 yards out to Demetrio Albertini who blasted a rising drive into the top right-hand corner. Daniele Massaro wrapped up the scoring in the 66th minutes with a blazing shot as he ran on to Christian Panucci's brilliant through ball.

Milan: Rossi; Tassotti, Costacurta, Baresi, Panucci, Albertini, Donadoni, Desailly, Boban, Savicevic (Simone, 87), Massaro (Lentini, 83).

Monaco: Ettori; Blondeau (Wreh, 52), Grimandi, Dumas, Petit, Puel (Simba, 67), Gnako, Viaud, Scifo, Djorkaeff, Klinsmann.