Francesco Totti inspired Roma to a 3-1 victory over Inter Milan
to put the Serie A title celebrations on hold on Wednesday.
Totti's late freekick from the edge of the area was deflected by
an Inter boot and handed the visitors a last-gasp lead after Marco
Materazzi's spot kick had equalised Simone Perrotta's 44th minute
opener for Roma.
Late substitute Marco Cassetti then found time and space as he
charged towards the Inter goal in the dying seconds to beat Inter
keeper Julio Cesar with a well-struck shot which stunned the
hosts.
It is Inter's first defeat in 32 matches this season and means
they will now have to wait before celebrating what will be their
first league title won on the field of play since 1989.
With six matches remaining Inter, who were handed the Scudetto
last season in the wake of Juventus's relegation to Serie B for
match-fixing, lead second-placed Roma by 13 points.
Inter seemed strangely overawed by a Roma side who had obviously
come to the San Siro motivated to ruin their party plans.
"We shouldn't have lost this match," said Inter coach Roberto
Mancini.
"It hurts a little. We had hoped to finish the season
unbeaten.
"We didn't play well in the first half. It was very good after
the break and then their (second) goal was a bit lucky, it's a
pity.
"But it's not a problem to put the party on hold," added
Mancini.
Roma coach Luciano Spalletti was delighted with his side a week
after being humiliated 7-1 by Manchester United in the Champions
League.
"The match was lively and intense with the result uncertain
until the final whistle. Inter fought until the end, we suffered,
but we bounced back and believed in ourselves."
But Spalletti remained realistic about their chances of catching
Inter.
"It's only right that Inter should win the title after the
season they've had. And when a party is postponed it's always
better later."
Roma easily dominated the first half, and Totti first gave Inter
a scare with an angled shot which forced a save from Julio
Cesar.
Perrotta ran down on the rebound, and only Douglas Maicon's head
got in the way of a sure opener for the hosts. Minutes later
Perrotta saw a well-struck long range drive dip inches over the
crossbar.
A Cristian Chivu freekick then had Julio Cesar at full stretch
before the ball landed on the roof of the net.
Roma took a deserved lead in the 44th minute, as confusion
reigned in the Inter area.
A neat through ball was played on to Chivu and his pass across
goal from the by-line was tapped in by the unmarked Perrotta from
only two yards out.
Inter were soon back on level terms, although the penalty
decision in the 50th minute seemed dubious after Doni was unfairly
ruled to have brought down Adriano.
Materazzi made no mistake, sending Doni the wrong way to pull
level.
(China Daily via AFP April 20, 2007)