COPPA: Inter end Cup drought

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Inter have beaten Roma to the Coppa Italia - their first piece of silverware in seven years - with a Sinisa Mihajlovic strike.


Patron Massimo Moratti had previously only ever been able to celebrate the 1998 UEFA Cup and the club hadn't lifted the Coppa Italia since 1982.


The Giallorossi needed nothing short of a miracle to recover from their 2-0 first leg home defeat, but opted to leave Vincenzo Montella on the bench. Adriano scored twice in Rome and was absent along with the other South Americans due to the Confederations Cup.


It was a fiery start and Gianluca Curci punched Ze Maria’s cross off Obafemi Martins’ head, though Kily Gonzalez was unable to get his follow-up into the empty net. Simone Perrotta was also forced into a desperate challenge as Martins was freed by a Christian Panucci error and Curci got down to block a long-range Julio Cruz effort.


There was controversy on 32 minutes when Martins managed to out-sprint six Roma players to get to the ball and Curci went to ground. The Nigerian believed it was a penalty – and it's not clear whether the goalkeeper made contact with the ball – but the referee waved play on.


Soon after Cruz also burst through the centre and was brought down from behind by Philippe Mexes, though the Frenchman escaped without a booking. From the resulting free kick, Sinisa Mihajlovic curled the ball just past the top corner.


Coach Bruno Conti had to take risks for the final 45 minutes and threw on Vincenzo Montella for Olivier Dacourt. The Aeroplanino had Roma’s first real chance soon after as Francesco Toldo rushed off his line to clear Francesco Totti’s pass.


However, it was Inter who broke the deadlock with a classic Sinisa Mihajlovic free kick from 25 metres that Curci was only able to fingertip on to the upright.


Panucci was fortunate to stay on the field when he dragged Martins down by his jersey, as the ex-Inter defender had already been booked. Toldo only parried a fierce Totti effort, but any remaining hope Roma had went out of the window when Leandro Cufre received his second yellow card for a futile handling offence.


Cruz went close with a couple of headers, but substitute Montella limped off after just 27 minutes with an injury to be replaced by Daniele Corvia. Amantino Mancini had two successive shots charged down, but Toldo was never really tested tonight.


Inter win the Coppa Italia, but Roma can be satisfied, as merely playing in the Final qualifies them for next season's UEFA Cup.




Inter 1-0 Roma (3-0 on agg)


Scorers: Mihajlovic 52 (I)


Inter: Toldo; Cordoba, Materazzi, Mihajlovic, Favalli (Gamarra 88); Ze Maria (Veron 86), C Zanetti, Stankovic (Biava 93), Kily Gonzalez; Martins, Cruz


Roma: Curci; Panucci, Mexes, Chivu (Ferrari 79), Cufre; Perrotta, Dacourt (Montella 46) (Corvia 72), De Rossi, Mancini; Totti, Cassano


Ref: Trefoloni


Sent off: Cufre 66 (R)

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Roberto Mancini and his players all believe the Coppa Italia is the starting point for a new winning era at the San Siro.

“I am happy because it’s an important victory for the club and I think it right to dedicate this celebration to the Moratti family and all the fans who waited so long,” said Coach Roberto Mancini after the 3-0 aggregate win over Roma.


Mancio is an old hand at this competition, as he has now won six as a player and three during his Coaching career with Fiorentina, Lazio and Inter.


“We hope that this will be the beginning of a new era for the Nerazzurri and that all the supporters can join us on that journey.”


Adriano scored both goals in the first leg, but Sinisa Mihajlovic put the final seal on the victory with one of his trademark free kicks.


“I am especially pleased for this wonderful crowd, as throughout the season they never stopped showing us their support,” said the Serb.


“It is thanks to them that we have won this trophy. To be honest, we started out hoping to win the Scudetto or the Champions’ League, but I recall that at Lazio we started a new era with the Coppa Italia and then moved on to other trophies. The important thing is that this side learns how to win competitions.”


The Nerazzurri struggled badly at the start of the campaign and put together a record number of draws, but have finally hit their stride.


“We went through a lot of changes in the summer and it took a while to find the right balance, but once we achieved that we were on fine form and hopefully we can start next season on these foundations.”


Captain Javier Zanetti was one of several South American stars who missed the second leg due to the Confederations Cup, but he rang from Germany to congratulate his teammates.


“I saw the second half on television and it really hurts me to not be there for the party, but I am very happy to see Inter win a trophy and here’s hoping it’s the first of many. Esteban Cambiasso is also with me watching and we want to share this joy with the Nerazzurri fans.”


Roma were keeping tight-lipped and Coach Bruno Conti only gave a brief interview after the final whistle.


“We didn’t do much to turn this result around tonight and clearly that goal cut us down even further. Inter deserved to win the Coppa Italia,” he said. “I asked everyone to work hard for the team and our poor performance wasn’t only down to Francesco Totti and Antonio Cassano. It just wasn’t our night.”

[Salem6]

Congrats Inter. No trophies 4 da Rossoneri ;D