World Kick Off

Roma 2-1 Inter
1-0 (Mexes,36), 2-0 (Perrotta, 54) 2-1 (Pele, 59)



Roma clamed consecutive Coppa Italias with a well-deserved win over Inter who, despite winning the Scudetto, may well have played their last game under Roberto Mancini.


Roma dominated the first half and should have taken the lead before they eventually did, with Philippe Mexes the unlikely scorer.

Despite missing Amantino Mancini and of course club captain Francesco Totti, Roma were having much of the play and doubled their lead shortly after the restart through Simone Perrotta.

Inter - missing Marco Materazzi and Julio Cruz due to suspension - hit back just before the hour mark, with substitute Pele powering home a long-range drive.

The Nerazzurri attempted to press for an equaliser - though they did not risk bringing on Zlatan Ibrahimovic who, despite his Scudetto heroics last week, is not fully match-fit - and indeed Roma held out for their second win over Inter in this fixture in as many years, with Inter having bested them in the final the two years prior to that.

First Half

Roma came out looking the sharper side, threatening to punish Inter early on, as they looked content to see out the early spell of pressure.

They created the first chance, with a Mario Balotelli free-kick hitting the wall, rebounding as far as Dejan Stankovic, whose shot was saved comfortably by Alexander Doni.

The Giallorossi continued having more of the play, as Ludovic Giuly blasted a shot over the bar before Mirko Vucinic did well to slide in Simone Perrotta, whose attempt on goal was blocked by Christian Chivu.

Midway through the first half, Inter looked a little more settled and had a few chances of their own. Maicon aimed a good cross into the middle which Patrick Vieira could not quite keep down, before Maxwell made a magnificent run and shot, but Doni was at his very best to keep it out.

Vucinic almost gave Roma the lead just before the half hour mark when a Marco Cassetti cross was nodded into his path, but he was a split second too slow and could not get a decent touch on the ball from point-blank range.

However, it was not long until the Giallorossi took a deserved lead courtesy of a well-taken goal from Mexes. A David Pizarro corner was floated into the danger-zone and Mexes was first to it, volleying home from close range leaving Francesco Toldo with no chance.

Inter attempted to press to snatch an equaliser before the break, but it was Roma who had a couple of efforts from Alberto Aquilani and Mexes before the referee blew for half time.

Second Half

Straight after the restart, Roma looked like they may double their lead, only for Vucinic to attempt an incredible effort from distance instead of finding a team-mate, much to the disdain of coach Luciano Spalletti on the sidelines.

They did not have to wait long, however, as Vucinic atoned for his error after 53 minutes to set up Perrotta, who added a second. It was the midfielder who put Vucinic through on goal but, feeling genorous, Vucinic knocked it back to the Italian international to tap in. Remonstrations from Inter over an alleged foul on Cesar in the build-up only proceeded in earning Toldo a booking.

However, it did not take long for Inter to respond as Pele - who came on for Stankovic at half time - struck a thunderous shot from distance to find the back of the net and make it 2-1.

Vucinich attempted to restore Roma's two-goal advantage shortly after, only for Nicolas Burdisso to give Spalletti's men the ultimate scare, when he rose highest to head Maicon's cross against the crossbar, mere inches away from an equaliser.

Pele began dictating the game in the middle of the mark as Inter were doing the pressing, but could not create a clear-cut chance on goal, as Roma held out with almost relative ease to claim some well-deserved silverware to end a season in which they have done themselves proud.

LINE-UPS

Roma (4-5-1): Doni - Cassetti, Mexes, Juan, Tonetto - Giuly (Cicinho, 66), De Rossi, Aquilani (Panucci, 90), Pizarro, Perrotta (Brighi, 72) - Vucinic

Unused substitutes: Curci, Antunes, Mancini, Esposito.

Inter (4-4-2): Toldo - Maicon, Burdisso, Chivu, Maxwell - Zanetti (Crespo, 90), Vieira, Stankovic (Pele, 46), Cesar (Jimenez, 61) - Balotelli, Suazo

Unused substitutes: Julio Cesar, Fatic, Maniche, Ibrahimovic.