ROME, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Inter Milan defeated AS Roma
3-1 in the second leg of the Italian Cup final at San Siro Thursday to claim a
second straight title and fifth overall.
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| Inter Milan's team celebrate the victory of "Italy Cup" against Roma at San Siro stadium in Milan. (Xinhua/Reuters) |
Argentine teammates Esteban Cambiasso and Julio Ricardo Cruz scored first-half goals and substitute Obafemi Martins added another in the 77th against a Roman side which
was without three regulars due to suspension, lost defender Cristian Chivu to
injury after 12 minutes and could not start midfielder Daniele De Rossi because
of a fever.
It was the second straight year Inter had beaten Roma
for the crown, prevailing 3-0 on aggregate last season.
Italian national team midfielder Francesco Totti
returned to action coming off a two-and-a-half month injury break.
Totti, who broke his left leg Feb. 19 in a Serie A
match against Empoli, was cheered by thousands when he entered the matchas a
substitute for Stefano Okaka in the 55th. He nearly scored with a drive in the
68th and curled a free kick to set up Roma's only goal, an 80th-minute header by
Shabani Nonda.
The title was some consolation for Inter Milan, which
is destined for a third-place finish in the Serie A and was eliminated by
Villarreal in the European Champions League quarterfinals.
"It's always satisfactory to win something, although
this was our third target this season," said Inter manager Roberto Mancini,who
has won 10 Italian Cup titles as a player and coach.
Cambiasso, fed by Javier Zanetti, opened the scoring
in the sixth minute, with a left-foot volley from the area edge.
Cruz made it 2-0 in first-half injury time, beating a
defender and goalkeeper Doni on a counterattack and scoring his 20th of the
season into an open goal.
Cruz had also scored in Inter's 1-1 first-leg draw at
Stadio Olimpico last week.
Martins, who replaced Adriano in the second half, wrapped up the victory by capitalizing on Doni's error of leaving his line early. Enditem
