Inter added another another piece of silverware to their overflowing trophy cabinet by
ousting Roma to the Supercoppa Italiana.
John Arne Riise opened the scoring for the Lupi on 20 minutes, but Goran Pandev pounced on a defensive error to level the scoring before the break. Samuel Eto’o made the most of some tired Roma legs with 20 minutes left to play leaving Marco Cassetti for dead to tap home from close range. Eto’o double his lead late on following another defensive error to gift coach Rafael Benitez his first piece of silverware with the Nerazzurri.
The win, which was secured by some superior finishing in front of goal, means Inter take their 2010 trophy haul to four after lifting the Scudetto, Champions League and Coppa Italia at the end of last season.
The game sprung into life at a frightening pace and the Giallorossi squandered two golden chances in the opening 15 minutes when Mirko Vucinic and Jeremy Menez failed to fine the net following some excellent approach play.
Riise proved less wasteful in front of goal on 20 minutes when he powered a one touch finish into the bottom corner. The Norwegian had been served by a great through pass from Francesco Totti and the visitors deserved the early lead.
Douglas Maicon looked to be the form player for Inter but despite some commanding runs at the Roma box the Brazilian was unable to convert his numerous attempts at goal.
Pandev gifted the Nerazzurri parity on the stroke of half time as he pounced on some sloppy defending from Juan, to tap past his former foes. The scoreline was not an unfair reflection of the play on the whole, but the visitors left the field kicking themselves for the manner in which they had allowed Inter back into the game.
After the break Roma again came out firing and imposed Benitez’s side back as they pushed forward with Menez causing havoc in attack. Inter remained threatening on the counter and as the game neared the final half hour the home side took increasing risk in search of a winner.
Diego Milito thought he had put his side ahead on 64 minutes, but with the linesman incorrectly ruling Eto’o offside, ‘El Principe’s’ goal was not allowed to stand. The deadly partnership came together again just five minutes later however, and Eto’o wasted nothing as he tapped home from close range after bursting past his marker.
The Cameroonian hitman doubled his tally with ten minutes to go by pouncing on another Roma defensive error and smashing past a helpless Bogdan Lobont. The goal underlined the gap in physical power between the side’s and highlighted Inter’s killer difference in front of goal.
The result takes Inter’s Supercoppa haul to five and the Nerazzurri join rivals Milan as the most successful side in the history of the trophy. The defeat left Roma with little to show despite a positive approach to the game. As the ongoing rivalry between the sides continues, it seems the Nerazzurri are still the team to beat following another display of cup final ruthlessness.
