<p>Inter Milan scored two early goals to secure an impressive 2-0 win over AC Milan in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday and stay on course to become the first Italian team to win the trophy since they did so in 2010.</p>.<p>Inter struck after eight and 11 minutes, with Edin Dzeko smashing in a close-range volley before Henrikh Mkhitaryan doubled the lead from Federico Dimarco's cross to stun their city rivals at the San Siro.</p>.<p>Milan were shell-shocked and although they improved in the second half, they rarely threatened a comeback and face an uphill task to stay on course to win their eighth European Cup.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/sergio-busquets-to-leave-barcelona-at-end-of-season-1217458.html" target="_blank">Sergio Busquets to leave Barcelona at end of season</a></strong></p>.<p>"Right from the first minute we had a great desire to win," player of the match Mkhitaryan told <em>Prime Video</em>. "But it's not over yet. A great battle awaits us."</p>.<p>Bosnian striker Dzeko, 37, became the second oldest player to score in a Champions League semi-final after Manchester United's Ryan Giggs. He struck twice in Inter's 6-0 win at Verona this month to end a near four-month goal drought.</p>.<p>"Sometimes you get in this difficult moment where the ball doesn't want to go in. Patience and work always pays off. I was calm knowing the goals would come as always," Dzeko said.</p>.<p>Three-times European champions Inter made a fast start when Hakan Calhanoglu delivered a corner which fell to Dzeko and the veteran Bosnian striker expertly fired the ball into the top right corner.</p>.<p>Inter, who came into the fixture in high spirits after four consecutive Serie A wins, doubled the lead through Mkhitaryan after Dimarco served him with a brilliant pass and the Armenian broke into Milan's box to find the net from close range.</p>.<p><strong>Powerful shot</strong></p>.<p>Calhanoglu went close to adding the third when his powerful long-range shot hit the inside of the post and Mkhitaryan was denied by Milan keeper Mike Maignan.</p>.<p>Milan, without injured forward Rafael Leao, were stunned and things could have got worse for the hosts when Lautaro Martinez went down inside the box just after the half-hour mark.</p>.<p>The referee pointed to the penalty spot but his decision was overturned following a VAR review.</p>.<p>Milan showed more attacking intent after the interval but created few clear chances with strikes from Brahim Diaz and Junior Messias missing the target and Sandro Tonali hitting the post.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/ucl-real-madrid-silence-erling-haaland-hold-manchester-city-to-1-1-draw-1217352.html" target="_blank">UCL: Real Madrid silence Erling Haaland, hold Manchester City to 1-1 draw</a></strong></p>.<p>Substitute Tommaso Pobega also had a late opportunity to pull a goal back for Milan but goalkeeper Andre Onana kept out his low effort from the edge of the penalty area.</p>.<p>"The lads played with their hearts and heads, covering every part of the pitch," Inter coach Simone Inzaghi said. "We're happy, but we're still missing a piece."</p>.<p>It was the first time Inter have beaten their neighbours in a European knockout tie, with Milan progressing from both previous meetings, most recently in the 2004-05 Champions League quarter-finals.</p>.<p>That was a stormy game and when Inter had a goal disallowed in the second leg, their fans reacted angrily and a flare thrown on to the pitch struck Milan goalkeeper Dida. The match was abandoned with Milan leading 1-0.</p>.<p>Milan were awarded a 3-0 win, having won the first leg 2-0, and went on to lose a dramatic final to Liverpool on penalties.</p>.<p>Inter host Milan in the second leg at the same venue on Tuesday and the winners will face Real Madrid or Manchester City in the final.</p>
<p>Inter Milan scored two early goals to secure an impressive 2-0 win over AC Milan in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday and stay on course to become the first Italian team to win the trophy since they did so in 2010.</p>.<p>Inter struck after eight and 11 minutes, with Edin Dzeko smashing in a close-range volley before Henrikh Mkhitaryan doubled the lead from Federico Dimarco's cross to stun their city rivals at the San Siro.</p>.<p>Milan were shell-shocked and although they improved in the second half, they rarely threatened a comeback and face an uphill task to stay on course to win their eighth European Cup.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/sergio-busquets-to-leave-barcelona-at-end-of-season-1217458.html" target="_blank">Sergio Busquets to leave Barcelona at end of season</a></strong></p>.<p>"Right from the first minute we had a great desire to win," player of the match Mkhitaryan told <em>Prime Video</em>. "But it's not over yet. A great battle awaits us."</p>.<p>Bosnian striker Dzeko, 37, became the second oldest player to score in a Champions League semi-final after Manchester United's Ryan Giggs. He struck twice in Inter's 6-0 win at Verona this month to end a near four-month goal drought.</p>.<p>"Sometimes you get in this difficult moment where the ball doesn't want to go in. Patience and work always pays off. I was calm knowing the goals would come as always," Dzeko said.</p>.<p>Three-times European champions Inter made a fast start when Hakan Calhanoglu delivered a corner which fell to Dzeko and the veteran Bosnian striker expertly fired the ball into the top right corner.</p>.<p>Inter, who came into the fixture in high spirits after four consecutive Serie A wins, doubled the lead through Mkhitaryan after Dimarco served him with a brilliant pass and the Armenian broke into Milan's box to find the net from close range.</p>.<p><strong>Powerful shot</strong></p>.<p>Calhanoglu went close to adding the third when his powerful long-range shot hit the inside of the post and Mkhitaryan was denied by Milan keeper Mike Maignan.</p>.<p>Milan, without injured forward Rafael Leao, were stunned and things could have got worse for the hosts when Lautaro Martinez went down inside the box just after the half-hour mark.</p>.<p>The referee pointed to the penalty spot but his decision was overturned following a VAR review.</p>.<p>Milan showed more attacking intent after the interval but created few clear chances with strikes from Brahim Diaz and Junior Messias missing the target and Sandro Tonali hitting the post.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/ucl-real-madrid-silence-erling-haaland-hold-manchester-city-to-1-1-draw-1217352.html" target="_blank">UCL: Real Madrid silence Erling Haaland, hold Manchester City to 1-1 draw</a></strong></p>.<p>Substitute Tommaso Pobega also had a late opportunity to pull a goal back for Milan but goalkeeper Andre Onana kept out his low effort from the edge of the penalty area.</p>.<p>"The lads played with their hearts and heads, covering every part of the pitch," Inter coach Simone Inzaghi said. "We're happy, but we're still missing a piece."</p>.<p>It was the first time Inter have beaten their neighbours in a European knockout tie, with Milan progressing from both previous meetings, most recently in the 2004-05 Champions League quarter-finals.</p>.<p>That was a stormy game and when Inter had a goal disallowed in the second leg, their fans reacted angrily and a flare thrown on to the pitch struck Milan goalkeeper Dida. The match was abandoned with Milan leading 1-0.</p>.<p>Milan were awarded a 3-0 win, having won the first leg 2-0, and went on to lose a dramatic final to Liverpool on penalties.</p>.<p>Inter host Milan in the second leg at the same venue on Tuesday and the winners will face Real Madrid or Manchester City in the final.</p>