Inter winners against Roma

Inter winners against Roma

Inter Milan clinched the first trophy of a potential treble-winning campaign as a lone Diego Milito strike gave them a 1-0 win against Roma.

Milito's 40th minute goal handed the Nerazzurri their sixth Coppa Italia, the first under coach Jose Mourinho.

Roma ended the game down to 10 men after substitute Francesco Totti was sent off for a second booking in what was a sombre night for the Giallorossi in their own Stadio Olimpico.

Inter will now take aim at Champions League glory with a final date against Bayern Munich in Madrid later this month.

They also lead Roma by two points in Serie A heading into the final two weeks of the season.

Roma coach Claudio Ranieri had predicted a level game "between the two star teams of Serie A".

And the former Juventus boss surprisingly left Totti out of the starting XI, opting instead to play with Luca Toni alongside Mirko Vucinic in attack.

Inter, coming off a 2-0 triumph at Roma's city rivals Lazio on Sunday, dominated possession early on.

Mourinho was forced to make his first substitution in the fifth minute with Mario Balotelli replacing an injured Wesley Sneijder.

It did not hinder Inter, however, who almost went in front shortly after.

Striker Samuel Eto'o played in Maicon, whose angled effort towards the near post forced Roma goalkeeper Julio Sergio to make a fine save.

Inter had a goal disallowed in the 17th minute with Milito was adjudged to be offside after being set up by Eto'o.

In the 26th minute, Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar did well to deny Toni, who was ready to score from Rodrigo Taddei's dangerous cross.

On the half-hour mark, Julio Sergio was forced to clear Balotelli's bullet strike from 30 yards but Roma should have taken the lead soon after.

Simone Perrotta latched onto Taddei's cross from the right but his powerful header went wide.

At the other end, Perrotta gave the ball away and that led to Inter's goal.

Thiago Motta recovered possession and fed Milito, who surged inside the area before hitting the ball with his right foot past Julio Sergio.

Ranieri brought on Totti after the re-start and Roma began to look more dangerous.

Roma then missed a golden chance to equalise in the 53rd minute.

Julio Cesar failed to hold onto Totti's free-kick and an unmarked Juan nodded wide, much to the disbelief of the Roma fans.

Just past the hour mark, substitute Jeremy Menez's right-footed strike from 20 yards forced Julio Cesar to punch away.

Roma continued to press forward and Julio Cesar had to be at full stretch to clear John Arne Riise's stinging drive towards the centre of goal.

With 10 minutes remaining, Roma players demanded a penalty after Menez went down inside the area following contact with Christian Chivu but the referee waved play on.

Roma then had another chance to restore parity with seven minutes remaining.

Motta found Vucinic inside the area but his right-footed attempt went wide of the far post.

Totti was then handed his marching orders after a bad foul on Balotelli as Roma's hopes of lifting the cup faded away.