Inter book final berth

European champions Inter Milan are through to the final of the FIFA Club World Cup after a 3-0 win over Korean side Seongnam Ilhwa.

The Italians shook off their poor run of form to record a comfortable victory on Wednesday and did so without influential midfielder Wesley Sneijder, who was substituted after just two minutes with a hamstring injury.

Dejan Stankovic scored the opener after just four minutes for Rafael Benitez’s side, and further goals to Javier Zanetti and Diego Milito sealed the win at Sheikh Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi.

Inter had won just two of their last 10 matches in all competitions and would have been wary of the danger posed by Seongnam, especially given fellow seed Internacional’s shock loss to African champions TK Mazembe on Tuesday.

But Stankovic settled any nerves they might have had, netting in the fourth minute after he broke through the defence and slotted a left-footed shot past Seongnam goalkeeper Jung Sung-Ryong.

Zanetti doubled Inter’s advantage just past the half hour mark, finishing off a clever one-two with Milito after the Argentine had back-heeled the ball into his compatriot’s path.

Seongnam were proving dangerous from set pieces, and went close twice in the closing stages of the first half.

Montenegrin striker Dzenan Radoncic forced Julio Cesar into a good save with his looping header, before Byung Kuk pushed his header narrowly wide after another pin-point free kick from Mauricio Molina.

But any hopes the Koreans had were extinguished in the 73rd minute when Milito made it 3-0.

Stankovic’s wayward pass eventually found its way to Samuel Eto’o on the left flank, and although the Cameroonian’s shot was saved by Sung-Ryong, Milito was on hand to smash home the rebound.

Inter will now meet TK Mazembe in the final on Saturday, while Seongnam will face Brazilians Internacional in the third place play-off.