Club America beats Inter Milan

STANFORD, California (AP) - Oscar Rojas scored the winning goal in a shootout as Mexico's Club America defeated Serie A powerhouse Inter Milan 5-4 on penalties to take the first match of the inaugural World Football Championship on Sunday.

After a scoreless first half, Club America took the lead in the 51st minute when midfielder Juan Carlos Silva slammed a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Vid Belec off a Pavel Pardo corner.

"I'm very happy because scoring a goal against such a big team is very exciting," Silva said.

Ivan Ramiro Cordoba equalized for Milan nine minutes later when he headed in a corner from Mario Baloelli, leaving the teams 1-1 at fulltime.

The six-city, round-robin tournament features four of the world's most biggest football teams - England's Chelsea, Italy's AC Milan and Inter Milan and Club America.

Neither team appeared to be treating the friendly tournament with any importance.

Inter Milan's Julio Cesar, one of the world's best goalkeepers, was not with the team Sunday and second choice keeper Francesco Toldo didn't take the field. That left the job to Belec, who turned 19 in June.

Two of Inter Milan's biggest stars, Argentinian defender Javier Zanetti and Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic were not in the starting lineup. Ibrahimovic entered the game early in the second half. Club America was missing star goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.

"We're very happy with the way the game went," Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho said. "We're very happy no one got injured."

Based on recent history, Inter Milan was the decided favorite Sunday. It won its fourth straight Serie A title in Italy last season. Club America, meanwhile, finished eighth in the Primera Division in Mexico and hasn't won a title since 2005. Also Jesus Ramirez became Club America's fifth new coach in a year when he was hired last February.

"I'm proud of the way the guys fought against a very tough team such as Inter," Ramirez said.

The tournament's next match is Tuesday in Pasadena, California where Chelsea will meet Inter Milan. Club America faces AC Milan Wednesday in Atlanta, then on Friday Chelsea and AC Milan play in Baltimore.

A tournament champion will be crowned based on total points. Teams receive three points for a win in regulation, two for a shootout win and one for a shootout loss.

At the end of regulation Sunday, players on both teams started exchanging jerseys, unaware that shootouts were part of the tournament.