Final score

27 March 2010 18:00

Roma
28' (2nd half) Toni
17' De Rossi
Inter
21' (2nd half) Milito
Referee: Emidio Morganti / Linesmen: Rossomando, Lanciano / Fourth official: Rizzoli
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
46' Half time in Rome. The Giallorossi lead Inter by a goal to nil, De Rossi the sole scorer on 17 minutes.
46' Sneijder goes down under a challenge from Cassetti in the Roma area. Morganti blows his whistle, but it's to signal the end of the first half.
45' One minute of added time.
45' Sneijder's 35-yard free kick is blocked by the Roma wall.
45' Tempers flare in the capital as Cambiasso and Perrotta exchange 'pleasantries' in midfield. Morganti calms the players down and Sneijder can now take his free kick, awarded after Burdisso's foul on Stankovic.
42' Great chance for an equaliser. Walter Samuel rises in the box and sees his header from Sneijder's corner hit the underside of the crossbar. Roma clear with some difficulty and Lucio fires wide his follow-up from 20 yards.
41' Inter win a right-wing corner after De Rossi's well-timed sliding challenge on Maicon.
40' Maicon floats in a cross for Eto'o. Burdisso is first to the ball and the ex-Inter defender heads away.
38' Julio Cesar tips round Mirko Vucinic's fierce drive from the resulting free kick.
37' Thiago Motta brings down Cassetti to end a surging run by the Roma full-back. Morganti produces a yellow card.
36' Maicon spots Stankovic lurking in the box and delivers a low cross. Burdisso intercepts.
34' Vucinic turns Thiago Motta on the right before seeing his cross blocked. Moments later Roma win a free kick on the right after a foul on Perrotta. De Rossi connects with Pizarro's free kick at the far post but there's no room for a shot.
33' Wesley Sneijder overhits his through ball for Milito. Julio Sergio saves.
32' John Arne Riise's low rocket shot is a whisker wide of Julio Cesar's dive and his right-hand stick.
31' Javier Zanetti is cautioned for a foul from behind on Menez. The Inter captain will serve an automatic one-match ban, interrupting his long run of consecutive Serie A matches.
30' De Rossi's flicked header from Pizarro's free kick is wide of Julio Cesar's right-hand post.
30' Walter Samuel is booked for a foul on David Pizarro.
29' Chance for Roma. Vucinic gets into a shooting position 20 yards from goal and sees his effort deflected behind for a corner.
28' Eto'o is denied again by Cassetti who intercepts a cross at full stretch, allowing Julio Sergio to gather.
27' A chance for Eto'o in the Roma box but Cassetti gets back in time to win the ball off the Inter number nine.
26' Menez is yellow-carded for a foul on Thiago Motta.
24' Menez crosses for Vucinic. Maicon intercepts and plays to safety.
23' Thiago Motta unleashes a shot from 25 yards. It's blocked at close range by the Roma defence. Seconds later Stankovic volleys wide a short pass from Eto'o.
21' We're back under way at the Olimpico as Milito and Burdisso chase the ball down the right.
20' Play is interrupted as Dejan Stankovic receives medical attention after being elbowed in the chest by Toni.
19' Free kick to Inter in a central position 35 yards out. Sneijder's wicked swerveshot is through the wall and just wide of Julio Sergio's left-hand post.
17' GOAL. Julio Cesar drops Nicolas Burdisso's header from David Pizarro's free kick and Daniele De Rossi is on hand to prod home from a yard out. ROMA 1-0 INTER.
16' Toni gets away from Lucio in our area but the Brazil captain makes a terrific recovery to intercept the Azzurri striker.
13' Riise latches on to Lucio's headed clearance from Cassetti's right-wing cross and fires over the bar from 20 yards.
12' Wesley Sneijder's outswinging free kick is blocked by De Rossi.
11' Diego Milito is tripped by Juan and we are awarded a free kick just outside the Roma area on the right.
8' Vucinic threads through to Luca Toni but the Italian striker has his back to goal and can't find space for a shot. Moments later the Montenegrin floats a right-wing cross over the head of Toni. Missed chance for the Giallorossi.
7' Maicon looks for Stankovic with a long-range pass into the Roma area. It's a touch too long for the Serbian midfielder and Julio Sergio gathers.
5' Riise races down the left, wins a rebound, gets a lift from the home fans and works the ball to Vucinic, who is promptly intercepted by Walter Samuel.
3' Lucio runs down the middle and lays off to Stankovic on the right. The Serbian's first cross is blocked and his second into the area is cleared by Cassetti.
1' Samuel Eto'o knows a thing or two about scoring at the Olimpico. It was his goal that paved the way for Barcelona's Champions League final victory over Manchester United in this stadium last season.
1' Emidio Morganti blows and Inter kick off. Game on!
1' Roma's emotional anthem "Roma Roma Roma" blares out as the teams trot out on to the pitch. The Stadio Olimpico is chock-a-block.
1' Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio, 25 Samuel, 4 Zanetti; 5 Stankovic, 19 Cambiasso, 8 Thiago Motta; 10 Sneijder; 22 Milito, 9 Eto'o.<br> &#8232;Subs: 1 Toldo, 2 Cordoba, 7 Quaresma, 11 Muntari, 23 Materazzi, 26 Chivu; 27 Pandev.<br> &#8232;Coach: José Mourinho.
1' Roma: 27 Julio Sergio; 77 Cassetti, 29 Burdisso, 5 Juan, 17 Riise; 20 Perrotta, 7 Pizarro, 16 De Rossi; 94 Menez, 30 Toni, 9 Vucinic. &#8232;<br>Subs: 32 Doni, 5 Mexes, 10 Totti, 11 Taddei, 19 Baptista, 22 Tonetto, 33 Brighi. &#8232;<br>Coach: Claudio Ranieri.
1' Samu will start this evening's match alongside Milito, with the other attacking option - Pandev - on the bench. Sneijder returns in his playmaker role at the tip of a diamond midfield with Stankovic and Thiago Motta in the middle and Cambiasso in front of the defence. Zanetti switches to left-back for his 137th consecutive appearance in Serie A.
1' Eto'o scored in the reverse fixture last November, scoring just after half time with Inter trailing to a goal from Mirko Vucinic. That game ended 1-1.
1' The Cameroon forward has refound his scoring touch of late, netting the winner against Chelsea to put Inter in the UCL last eight and scoring a sublime double in our 3-0 win over Livorno in midweek.
Minute Text commentary
50' Morganti blows for full time. Roma beat Inter 2-1 and close the gap at the top to one point.
50' Post! Diego Milito volleys against the upright and is go so close to a dramatic equaliser.
46' Another card. Cristian Chivu is cautioned for kicking Toni.
45' Five minutes of stoppage time.
45' Brighi is booked for diving.
42' Maicon's cross for Samuel is too long for the Argentine. Goal kick to Roma.
41' Roma introduce the talismanic Francesco Totti for Mirko Vucinic.
39' Samuel Eto'o wins a duel with Juan and rifles a right-foot shot high and wide. Nice try.
38' Eto'o is booked for protesting after a foul on Pizarro. He too will miss our next match Serie A match along with Zanetti, Samuel, Maicon and Lucio.
35' Chivu makes a headed clearance from Vucinic's cross directed at Luca Toni.
34' Maicon is booked for a tactical foul on Pizarro. The Brazilian will miss our next league game.
31' Double substitution for Inter. Cristian Chivu and Quaresma replace Esteban Cambiasso and Thiago Motta. 4-2-1-3 becomes 4-2-4.
30' Vucinic wastes a golden chance for a third. Through on goal with just Julio Cesar to beat, the Montenegro forward loses control of the ball in the box and the Inter keeper collects.
30' Vucinic wastes a golden chance for a third. Put through on goal, the Montenegrin has just Julio Cesar to beat but he loses control of the ball in the box and the Inter keeper collects.
29' Claudio Ranieri brings on Brighi for the injured De Rossi.
28' GOAL. Luca Toni controls Taddei's cross-shot and fires low into the bottom corner. The Olimpico goes wild. ROMA 2-1 INTER.
27' Milito goes through on goal from Pandev's pass but the onrushing Julio Sergio saves the blushes for Roma.
23' Roma bring on Taddei for Menez.
21' GOAL!!!!! Wesley Sneidjer pounces on the loose ball after seeing his shot blocked and then crosses to Diego Milito who slots home his 18th Serie A goal for the Nerazzurri. ROMA 1-1 INTER.
20' Roma counter-attack and Riise rifles wide from just outside our penalty box.
20' Eto'o squares to Sneidjer and the Dutchman hits a strong shot on target. Julio Sergio saves.
16' Pandev serves Milito in the area. The Argentine chests into the path of Sneijder who is closed down by Pizarro.
15' At the near post Toni heads wide Riise's attacking throw-in.
14' Substitution number one for Inter. Goran Pandev, a veteran of Stadio Olimpico clashes, replaces Dejan Stankovic and Inter go from 4-3-1-2 to 4-2-1-3.
13' Eto'o has an angled shot blocked. Corner.
13' Morganti blows for a foul by Thiago Motta as Lucio rises to head Sneijder's corner on target.
11' Simone Perrotta is booked for foul play.
10' Vucinic's inswinging free kick is headed just over by Luca Toni.
9' Lucio is booked for a foul on Vucinic on the left wing. The Brazilian will miss Inter's next league game.
8' Cassetti intercepts Milito inside the area after an intelligent pass from Sneijder.
7' Sneijder cuts inside Riise and shoots on sight, forcing Julio Sergio into a terrific diving save.
6' Menez' low shot from 20 yards flies out for a corner via a deflection.
4' More woodwork. Eto'o plays through to Milito and the Argentine's deflected angled shot hits the angle between post and bar. Corner.
3' Milito gets to the by-line and sends a low cross into the area. De Rossi cleans up.
1' Roma get the second half started.
Zanetti
5.78
5.78
Stankovic
7.84
7.84
Cambiasso
5.69
5.69
Julio Cesar
7.39
7.39
Samuel
5.75
5.75
Maicon
5.12
5.12
Chivu
4.77
4.77
Quaresma
3.49
3.49
Milito
6.77
6.77
Motta
4.99
4.99
Lucio
5.46
5.46
Eto'o
5.5
5.5
Sneijder
6.19
6.19
Pandev
5.01
5.01
Average rating 5.7
4 shots on target 3
9 shots off target 5
14 fouls committed 26
3 corners 4
0 offsides 2
25:54 ball possession 28:34
DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(31) draws(26) defeats(36)

ROME - Inter return from the capital with a slender one-point lead at the top of Serie A after losing 2-1 to Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Giallorossi took a 1-0 lead on 17 minutes with Daniele De Rossi slotting home from a yard out after Julio Cesar dropped Burdisso's header from a Pizarro free kick.

Walter Samuel went close to a leveller right before the break, his header from Wesley Sneijder's corner rattling the underside of the crossbar.

Inter hit the woodwork again early in the second half when Samuel Eto'o served Diego Milito, whose deflected diagonal shot smacked the angle between post and bar.

Mourinho replaced Stankovic with Pandev, Inter went from 4-3-1-2 to 4-2-1-3, slipped through the gears, and Sneijder forced a great save from Julio Sergio before Milito's equaliser in the 66th minute.

Eto'o squared to Sneijder who combined with Pandev before seeing his shot blocked. The Dutchman was first to the loose ball and he crossed low for The Prince to slide home from close range.

Roma's reply was swift and it came in the 73rd minute from the feet of Luca Toni, who controlled a cross-shot from substitute Taddei and fired low past Julio Cesar and into the bottom corner.

Inter rearranged again, going from 4-2-1-3 to 4-2-4 with the introduction of Quaresma and Chivu for Thiago Motta and Cambiasso, and were unlucky not to come away from Rome with a point when Milito volleyed against the post deep in stoppage time.

No less than seven Nerazzurri were yellow carded at the Olimpico. Four of them - Zanetti, Lucio, Maicon and Eto'o - were within a booking of suspension and will therefore miss next Saturday's Easter Saturday fixture against Bologna. 

Roma 2-1 Inter (HT: 1-0)

Scorers: De Rossi 17, Milito 66, Toni 73.

Roma: 27 Julio Sergio; 77 Cassetti, 29 Burdisso, 5 Juan, 17 Riise; 20 Perrotta, 7 Pizarro, 16 De Rossi (33 Brighi 74); 94 Menez (11 Taddei 68), 30 Toni, 9 Vucinic (10 Totti 86). 

Subs not used
: 32 Doni, 5 Mexes, 19 Baptista, 22 Tonetto. 

Coach
: Claudio Ranieri.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio, 25 Samuel, 4 Zanetti; 5 Stankovic (27 Pandev 59), 19 Cambiasso (26 Chivu 76), 8 Thiago Motta (7 Quaresma 76); 10 Sneijder; 9 Eto'o, 22 Milito.
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 2 Cordoba, 11 Muntari, 23 Materazzi.
Coach
: José Mourinho.

Referee: Emidio Morganti (Ascoli Piceno).

Booked: Menez 26, Samuel 30, Zanetti 31, Thiago Motta 37, Lucio 54, Perrotta 56, Maicon 79, Eto'o 83, Brighi 89, Chivu 90+1.

Att.: 68,000.

starting lineups

Julio Sergio 12 Julio Cesar
Cassetti 13 Maicon
Juan 6 Lucio
Burdisso 25 Samuel
Riise 4 Zanetti
Perrotta 5 Stankovic
Pizarro 19 Cambiasso
De Rossi 8 Motta
Menez 10 Sneijder
Toni 9 Eto'o
Vucinic 22 Milito

substitutes

Doni 1 Toldo
Mexes 2 Cordoba
Totti 7 Quaresma
Taddei 11 Muntari
Baptista 23 Materazzi
Tonetto 26 Chivu
Brighi 27 Pandev