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The first participant of the Coppa Italia final in Italy was revealed - it was the capital's team "Roma," who defeated the "Milan" team 3-1 at home. The first match between these clubs ended in a draw 2-2.
8` [1 - 0] Amantino Mancini 18` [1 - 1] Alberto Gilardino 23` [2 - 1] Simone Perrotta 46` [3 - 1] David Pizarro
The hosts started the match more actively and took the lead in the 8th minute, when Brazilian Amantino Mancini scored a precise shot after a pass from Francesco Totti, beating the "Milan" goalkeeper.
Just ten minutes later, "Milan" managed to equalize the score - Marek Jankulovski delivered a precise pass to his teammate Alberto Gilardino, who found himself one-on-one with the opponents' goalkeeper and had no choice but to send the ball into the "Roma" team's goal.
However, that was all the Milan team could create in this match. In the 23rd minute, Dida parried Francesco Totti's shot, but "Roma" defender Simone Perrotta was the first to reach it and restored his team's lead. Just at the start of the second half, "Milan" was pushed down when another Roma defender, David Pizarro, scored a brilliant shot for the third time against Dida.
Continuing with no decrease in tempo, "Roma" could have scored another goal, but in the 63rd minute of the match, team captain Francesco Totti failed to convert a penalty kick into the "Milan" goal from eleven meters away.
"It was a tough match, but the team played excellently," said "Roma" coach Luciano Spalletti after the match. "The guys on the field gave it their all today, and I'm proud of them."
"Pizarro's goal today decided the end of the match," admitted "Milan" coach Carlo Ancelotti. "We gave the Roma team a few gifts, and they made good use of them. On the other hand, I must admit that this is the right result."
It is worth mentioning that this is already the fourth Coppa Italia final for the "Roma" team in the last five years, but the capital team has not yet become the winner of this tournament, finishing second in the finals of 2003, 2005, and 2006, losing to Milan and Inter.
By the way, the latter team is considered the most realistic contender to reach the final of the tournament this year, as in the first leg of the semi-finals, they crushed the "Sampdoria" team 3-0. If this were to happen, "Roma" and "Inter" would meet in the Coppa Italia final for the third consecutive year.
