Serie A: Roma 1-4 Inter
Saturday, 29 September 2007 19:52:42
ROME - Defending champions Inter thrashed ten-man Roma 4-1 at the Olimpico to move three points clear at the top of the Serie A table.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Giuly was red-carded for hand ball.
Simone Perrotta struck a second-half reply for the Giallorossi who were finished off by three quick goals from Hernan Crespo, Julio Cruz and Ivan Cordoba.
Roberto Mancini opted for a surprise 4-3-3 lineup, flanking Ibrahimovic with Cesar and Figo in a three-pronged attack in front of midfield trio Stankovic, Dacourt and Cambiasso.
Roma made the brighter start and could have taken an early lead but Julio Cesar kept out Totti's thunderous free kick and Mancini's left-footed follow-up shot.
The Nerazzurri's first chance fell to Ibrahimovic who shielded from Mexes and turned quickly before sending a weak shot at Doni.
Inter kept up the pressure and went close again when Cambiasso tested the Roma custodian with a volleyed effort from the edge of the box after Zanetti's right-wing cross spun off Juan.
The breakthrough came after a counter-attack on 28 minutes. Doni parried a Cesar shot and Giuly was shown a straight red for handling Ibrahimovic's subsequent header. The Swedish forward dispatched the resulting penalty low to Doni's right to put the Nerazzurri in front.
Inter lost Ibrahimovic and Dacourt to injury early in the second half. Mancini threw on Argentine forwards Crespo and Cruz and reverted to a 4-4-2 formation.
Roma took advantage of the Nerazzurri's tactical switch and equalised through Simone Perrotta who lashed home from close range after a defensive mistake by Maxwell.
But the Giallorossi's leveller was short-lived as Inter stepped up a gear and stunned their opponents with three goals in nine minutes.
Cruz struck the post with a sweet right-foot shot from just inside the Roma box.
Crespo restored Inter's lead on 57 minutes, volleying in after Cambiasso's shot was parried by Doni.
Cruz then opened up a two-goal advantage with a low screamer from distance after receiving from Figo.
Cordoba killed off the game in the 66th, rising at the far post to power home Figo's pin-point left-wing cross.
Roma 1-4 Inter (HT: 0-1)
Scorers: Ibrahimovic (pen) 29, Perrotta 53, Crespo 57, Cruz 60, Cordoba 66.
Roma: 32 Doni; 2 Panucci (3 Cicinho 69), 5 Mexes, 4 Juan, 22 Tonetto; 16 De Rossi, 7 Pizarro; 14 Giuly, 20 Perrotta, 30 Mancini (9 Vucinic 69); 10 Totti (18 Esposito 76).
Subs not used: 1 Curci, 21 Ferrari, 29, Barusso, 33 Brighi.
Coach: Luciano Spalletti.
Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 4 Zanetti, 2 Cordoba, 25 Samuel, 6 Maxwell; 5 Stankovic, 15 Dacourt (18 Crespo 51), 19 Cambiasso; 7 Figo (30 Pelé 77), 8 Ibrahimovic (9 Cruz 51), 31 Cesar.
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 10 Adriano, 21 Solari, 29 Suazo.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Bologna).
Booked: Samuel 45, Pizarro 73.
Sent off: Giuly 28.
