MILAN (Italy), May 8: Inter Milan survived a second-half onslaught to escape with a 0-0 draw against local rivals AC Milan in the first leg of their European Champions League semifinal here at their shared San Siro stadium on Wednesday.

Meeting for the first time in Europe, Inter, the ‘away’ side in the tie, spurned several early chances to score a valuable away goal that would have given them the edge in the all-Italian encounter going into Tuesday’s second leg.

But after the opening 20 minutes it was one-way traffic with Milan camped in Inter’s half, but failing to cash in on their superiority, despite enjoying the bulk of the possession.

Although Inter spent most of the time defending, they almost clinched a dramatic late winner when Hernan Crespo lobbed Milan keeper Dida, but the Argentine’s clever effort sailed agonisingly over the crossbar.

A surprisingly open game without a hint of catenaccio was also notable for the fact that despite being a derby, no bookings were made by Russian referee Valentin Ivanov.

Inter’s Uruguayan midfielder Alvaro Recoba was asked to play up front alongside Crespo as first-choice striker Christian Vieri is still recovering from injury.

Vieri, Serie A’s leading goalscorer with 24 goals, damaged ligaments in his right knee in the quarter-final second leg against Valencia and his fellow Italy international Cristiano Zanetti was also missing for Inter because of the yellow card he received in the same match.

Dutch international Clarence Seedorf returned to bolster Milan’s midfield in place of the suspended Massimo Ambrosini, having made a surprisingly swift recovery from a similar injury to Vieri’s.

Winners of five European Cups to Inter’s two, Milan began nervously and almost paid for their anxiety in the seventh minute.

Crespo’s delightful flick sent Recoba clear of the Milan defence, but the nippy South American rushed his shot which rolled tamely into Dida’s grateful hands.

Recoba quickly had an opportunity to make amends for his poor shooting when Emre Belozoglu’s right-wing cross found him unmarked, but his weak header failed to trouble the busy Dida.

Having survived those early scares, Milan grew in confidence and only Francesco Toldo’s palms prevented Andriy Shevchenko’s curler from just outside the box giving the ‘home’ side a barely deserved lead.

The battle between Milan’s Manuel Rui Costa and Inter’s Luigi Di Biagio provided a fascinating sub-plot with both players working tirelessly to try and control the midfield.

With Rui Costa edging it, Milan finished the half on top, but their inability to deliver a decent final ball meant they went in at the break without anything to show for their efforts.

Milan started the second 45 minutes just as they finished the first and they almost made the breakthrough five minutes after the interval.

With the help of Seedorf, a former Inter player, Kakha Kaladze carved open the Inter defence and crossed for Shevchenko whose close-range shot was blocked by a forest of legs, allowing Toldo to easily collect the ball.

Milan kept up the momentum and created their best chance in the 59th minute.

Rui Costa’s superbly-timed angled pass put Shevchenko in the clear, but with just Toldo to beat, the Ukrainian inexplicably crossed for Filippo Inzaghi who was in a far worse position to score.

Inzaghi was unable to save his strike partner’s blushes as the pass was woefully short and easily cut out by Inter’s defence.

Milan continued to press but their cavalier approach almost cost them dear in the final minute when Crespo nearly scored for the visitors against the run of play.—AFP