By DPA,
Milan : Roma beat Inter Milan 2-1 at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico to win the 60th final of the Italian Cup that closed the 2007-2008 season.
The Rome red-yellows finished second to Inter in the Serie A, but retained the trophy Saturday after losing to Inter in 2005 and 2006 and drew level with Juventus as top winners with nine successes.
Roma won the trophy through a marvellous volley from Frenchman Philippe Mexes and a Simone Perrotta effort, while Portugal’s Pele scored Inter’s consolation goal.
A Perrotta drive met the back of a defender in the fourth minute as Roma produced a hammering but fruitless start. Inter made its first attempt in the 13th minutes when Dejan Stankovic fired centrally after pouncing on a loose ball.
Other chances went begging for Inter when Patrick Vieira aimed a header above the bar and his Brazilian defence team mate Maxwell had a fierce shot deflected by compatriot goalkeeper Alexander Doni.
Roma resumed their pressing with Vucinic missing a close-range deflection and Perrotta firing a central volley from the area limit before Mexes’s textbook shot.
Perrotta opened the second half with a drive saved by Francesco Toldo, who stood no chance when the midfielder in the 54th minute laid into the empty net after a fast scheme with Mirko Vucinic.
Inter’s reaction brought the signature of Pele, who replaced Stankovic after the break, and pulled one back on the hour slamming an impressive drive under the bar from the distance.
A frozen Doni had to thank his woodwork in the 64th minute as Burdisso’s diving header bounced off his right post.
“I think the boys showed what sportsmanship should,” Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said. “This success means that the team works in a certain way and that we have good club and people who work well.
“And by working well, once in a while you get to lift some trophy.”
Roma also won the Italian Supercup over Inter last August and will defend it again against Inter this year.
“Inter played a good game,” Inter captain Xavier Zanetti said. “We did what we could against a good team.”