Inter Milan booked their place in the Coppa Italia final for the sixth time in seven seasons after a 1-1 draw with Roma earned Leonardo’s side a 2-1 aggregate victory at San Siro.
It was always going to be a tall order for Roma to overcome the six-time winners in Milan, particularly after Samuel Eto’o had doubled the hosts’ aggregate lead three minutes into the second half. Yet Marco Borriello’s late header gave the visitors a lifeline and made for an exciting last few minutes as Vincenzo Montella’s team sought the away goal that would have taken them to the final at their Stadio Olimpico.
Trailing to Dejan Stanković’s first-leg goal, Roma made all the running in the first-half, with Borriello firing over and Daniele De Rossi sending a curling effort narrowly wide. However, it was the Inter who broke the second-leg deadlock when Eto’o scored his 50th Inter goal.
The holders could have doubled their lead soon afterwards when Giampaolo Pazzini brought a good stop from Doni after controlling a long ball, while Diego Milito was also denied by the Brazilian goalkeeper having cut inside his marker. At the other end, Júlio César also impressed the home crowd with a wonderful reaction save from Borriello, who subsequently fired a shot off both posts.
Had that gone in, Borriello’s late header, from Simone Perrotta’s cross, could have counted for more than a mere consolation.
But Inter withstood the final pressure from Roma and will be favorites to win another Copa Italia crown later this month.
