By Reuters and AP

MADRID - Inter Milan claimed its first European Cup in 45 years when Diego Milito struck in each half to give the Italians a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich yesterday.

At an age when many strikers begin to lose their pace, Diego Milito is just getting started. In his first season at the very top level of football, the 30-year-old has scored the biggest goals for Inter Milan all season.

His two biggest strikes came yesterday to lead Inter past Bayern Munich 2-0 for the Italian club's first European Cup title in 45 years.

He scored after 35 and 70 minutes at the Bernabeu stadium as Inter claimed an unprecedented treble for a Serie A club of Italian league and cup and Champions League in a triumph for Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho.

It was less than a week ago when a Milito goal sealed the Serie A title for Inter, and the Argentina international also scored the only goal in Inter's 1-0 win over AS Roma in the Italian Cup final. Before that he scored once and set up two other goals in Inter's 3-1 win over Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals.

With one end of the stadium decked out in the red of Bayern and the other filled with the blue-and-white clad Inter fans, both teams made a cautious start on a balmy Madrid evening.

Milito then opened the scoring when he nodded Julio Cesar's long punt to Wesley Sneijder, ran on to the Dutchman's pinpoint through ball and lifted a shot over goalkeeper Hans Joerg-Butt.

Bayern twice came close to an equalizer through midfielder Thomas Mueller and pacy winger Arjen Robben before Milito turned defender Daniel van Buyten inside out and stroked the ball into the far corner to wrap up a convincing win for the Italians.

Inter's other Champions League titles came in 1964 and 1965.