Another great win against Inter in what was a heated affair -And the new 2-7-1 formation looks like a winner.
Roma Roma Roma
core de sta citta
unico grande amore
de tanta e tanta gente
che fai sospira
Super Cup: De Rossi ends Inter reign
Sunday 19 August, 2007
Daniele De Rossi’s penalty gave Roma the first trophy of the season - the Italian Super Cup - with a 1-0 victory at Inter.
These two teams clashed repeatedly last season for the Scudetto, Coppa Italia and the Italian Super Cup. The Giallorossi were leading 3-0 at San Siro only to lose 4-3 in extra time. They were back again and Roma were out for revenge.
Inter surprisingly left Adriano in the stands along with the suspended Douglas Maicon, as there were so many forwards fighting for places. Cristian Chivu started in defence, facing his former teammates for the first time since that drawn-out transfer saga. Christian Panucci was a makeshift centre-back for Roma due to an injury crisis.
The visitors had the first real chance after six minutes and really should have taken the lead, but Ludovic Giuly incredibly volleyed over a totally open goal from Max Tonettos cut-back. Soon after, Julio Cesar held a Mirko Vucinic strike.
Luciano Spallettis men dominated the early possession, but when David Suazo launched on the counter he forced a booking out of Tonetto. Zlatan Ibrahimovic saw yellow for dissent.
Roma had penalty appeals when Totti exchanged passes with Giuly and the Frenchman was nudged off the ball mid-dribble by Marco Materazzi. The move continued and Giuly was again set free from six yards only for Julio Cesar to smother the shot.
Suazo went clear on another counter, but slipped as he entered the area. A scuffle broke out when Panucci went in elbow first on Nicolas Burdisso, infuriating Dejan Stankovic. The argument between the two continued for some time and both were booked.
The Nerazzurri continued to struggle in midfield and had no width. However, their strikers remain dangerous and Suazo combined with Ibrahimovic for the Swede to swing inches wide of the far post.
A comical Julio Cesar clearance nearly gave Roma a goal and Ibrahimovics free kick was well over. On the stroke of half-time, Stankovic rolled across for Ibras first time shot just past the near post.
After the restart Suazo again used his pace to find room and Doni parried the finish with his legs, then the former Cagliari star attempted an acrobatic volley.
Giuly wasted yet another golden opportunity. Tottis inspired disguised pass set the Frenchman clear, but once again he ballooned over from six yards.
Inter were under pressure, so Luis Figo replaced Olivier Dacourt. Marco Materazzi went into the book for going through the back of Totti and Roma had penalty appeals for a Cordoba shove on Daniele De Rossi.
Suazo also had an incredible chance, turning a weak totally free header straight into the grateful arms of Doni.
There was chaos on 69 minutes, as Roma threatened with a series of shots one of which may have struck Figos arm and on the counter Figo was going round Doni before the Brazilian managed to fingertip the ball off his foot with a perfectly-timed intervention.
Moments later Simone Perrotta was sent off before he even stepped on to the field. He was on the sidelines waiting to come on as a substitute when the referee showed him the red card in a very unusual incident. The fourth official demanded the decision for dissent, so Matteo Brighi came on instead for the disappointing Giuly.
Materazzi was felled by a Totti missile and at the third appeal Roma were awarded a penalty. Burdisso brought down Totti as the captain dribbled past him. Totti has missed a series of spot kicks in the past year and left the task to De Rossi, who put his effort in the tiny area between Julio Cesar and the near post, ricocheting in off the upright.
Soon after, Julio Cesar parried a point-blank shot from Vucinic, but Doni clattered into Marco Cassetti as Inter almost took advantage of that howler from a set-piece.
Totti had another shot charged down and again protested when he clashed with Materazzi, but Roma emerged with the victory. Inter had won the last two editions of the Italian Super Cup and this is the second for the Giallorossi.
Inter 0-1 Roma
Scorers: De Rossi pen 78 ®
Inter: Julio Cesar; Burdisso (Cruz 86), Cordoba, Materazzi, Chivu; Vieira (Cambiasso 66), Dacourt (Figo 52), Zanetti; Stankovic; Ibrahimovic, Suazo
Roma: Doni; Cassetti, Panucci, Mexes, Tonetto; De Rossi, Aquilani; Taddei, Giuly (Brighi 73), Vucinic (Rosi 90); Totti
Ref: Rosetti
Sent off: Perrotta 70 (R bench)