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The 59th Italian Cup tournament was won by the "Roma" club - despite the defeat in the return match against the title defenders Milano "Inter", the team from the Italian capital secured their eighth trophy in history with a stunning victory at home.
2 - 1 (First match 2-6, aggregate score 4-7) 50' [1 - 0] Hernan Crespo 55' [2 - 0] Julio Ricardo Cruz 83' [2 - 1] Simone Perrotta
Despite the fact that "Inter" needed an impressive revenge after a unexpectedly large defeat in the first match, the head coach of the Italian champions Roberto Mancini decided to play with only one nominal striker - Hernan Crespo, supported in the attack by the full-backs Luis Figo and Mariano Gonzalez.
Meanwhile, "Roma" coach Luciano Spalletti chose the strongest available lineup and made only one noticeable change - replacing the not fully recovered David Pizarro in the defensive line with Alberto Aquilani.
At the beginning of the match, former Roma "Lazio" full-back Dejan Stankovic played very actively, hitting the crossbar in the fourth minute while attempting to lob the goalkeeper, shooting wide in the seventh minute, and soon demanding a penalty.
In the first half-hour, the only attempt by "Roma" was a weak shot by the Brazilian Mancini, after which goalkeeper Francesco Toldo had no serious work. "Inter" attacked much more, but in the middle of the half, coach R. Mancini was forced to make a substitution - injured defender Patrick Vieira was replaced by striker Julio Cruz.
Later, after a shot by Hernan Crespo, his goal was saved by goalkeeper Doni, and on the other side of the field, Francesco Totti was denied by F. Toldo. At the end of the half, H. Crespo almost scored a superb goal with a header, but the ball just went over the crossbar, the referee did not award a penalty for A. Aquilani's foul on Maicon, and J. Cruz's goal was disallowed for offside.
However, "Inter" efforts paid off at the beginning of the second half when H. Crespo scored the first goal with a header after a pass from Maicon, and then, five minutes later, receiving a pass from L. Figo, J. Cruz beat Roma goalkeeper Doni and with more than half an hour left, the hosts led 2-0.
However, the tension increased in the last hour, and coach R. Mancini was sent off to the stands, while in the 70th minute, "Inter" defender Ivan Cordoba received a second yellow card. With the guests gaining a numerical advantage, they began to create better chances and C. Chivu was close to scoring with a penalty, goalkeeper F. Toldo's goal was attacked by D. Pizarro and Rodrigo Taddei.
In the 78th minute, "Roma" almost complicated their situation, as goalkeeper Doni saved a shot but the ball fell to Alvaro Recoba, who missed the chance, and with seven minutes left, the visitors sealed their victory in the final - after a missed F. Totti shot, Simone Perrotta directed the ball into the net.
At the end of the match, "Roma" could have equalized, but F. Toldo managed to deflect F. Totti's shot onto the crossbar, and on the other side of the field, Christian Panucci ended the last hope with a goal.
However, this did not spoil the day for the visitors - "Roma" won the final with a total score of 7-4 and claimed the Italian Cup for the first time since 1991.
