Final score

12 February 2005 20:30

Inter
48' (2nd half) Mihajlovic
23' Mihajlovic
Roma
Referee: Matteo Trefoloni / Linesmen: Griselli, Calcagno / Fourth official: Rizzoli
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
46' Half time. Inter lead Roma by a goal to nil.
45' There will be 1 minute of added time to play.
45' Cassano's cross into the box from the left is headed wide by Panucci.
44' Kily Gonzalez' cross from the left is deflected off a Roma defender and almost falls to Martins, but the Giallorossi clear and set up a counter attack.
41' Superrrrrbbbb tackle by Cordoba on Montella to deny the Roma striker a close-range tap-in from a Totti pass.
41' Montella can't find a way past Mihajlovic on the right channel. The Serie A top scorer plays back to Perrotta, whose cross into the box is headed clear by Cordoba.
40' Totti's free kick is a yard over.
38' Cassano needs medical attention after a foul from behind by Cordoba. The free kick is in a central position 25 yards out.
37' Sinisa Mihajlovic's long clearance almost falls into the path of Adriano but Pelizzoli comes to the edge of his area and collects.
35' Inter attack back. Adriano plays a quick one-two with Kily then sees his shot from the edge of the box deflected out for a corner. The Brazilian's header from the left-wing corner is wide.
34' De Rossi plays square to Matteo Ferrari, who from 25 yards blasts wide of the right post.
32' Cassano plays his corner kick to De Rossi, whose header off target is hooked clear by Inter captain Zanetti.
32' Giuseppe Favalli blocks Panucci's right-wing cross and it's a Roma corner.
29' Mexes climbs on Adriano in midfield and incredibly the free kick goes Roma's way.
28' At the far post Adriano outjumps Mexes and heads Favalli's left-wing cross wide.
27' Mexes commits another foul on Adriano and is lucky not to get booked.
27' Totti's free kick comes off the wall. His follow-up shot is on target and Toldo pulls off an incredible save.
26' Free kick to Roma in a central position 20 yards out after C.Zanetti fouls Totti.
24' That was Sinisa's fourth goal for Inter.
23' GOOOOAAAAALLLL!!!!! Sinisa Mihajlovic curls his left-foot free kick over the Roma wall and in at the near post.
22' Free kick to Inter on the right side of the Roma box for a foul by Mexes on Adriano.
21' Tempers flare in midfield as Kily has a few words with Panucci after a bad tackle by the Roma defender.
20' Adriano dances between three Giallorossi shirts inside the Roma box then crosses, but no Nerazzurri player is on hand.
19' Roma on the attack. Cassano combines with Montella, Cambiasso cuts out the return ball and Inter break.
17' Perrotta is cautioned for a foul on Adriano just inside the Roma half.
17' Francesco Totti's long-range effort is blocked by Cambiassso.
16' Free kick to Roma 25 yards out for a Cordoba foul on Perrotta.
14' Cassano plays wide to Panucci on the right wing. The Roma striker sprints forward to meet the return pass, which is promptly intercepted by Esteban Cambiasso.
14' Montella is flagged offside as he latches on to Totti's through ball.
13' Excellent tackle by Cristiano Zanetti on Antonio Cassano.
12' Kily, who has made a promising start to the match, plays through to Oba but the Nigerian is intercepted by Greek defender Dellas.
9' Daniele De Rossi's long pass from inside his own half is wayward and we win a goal kick.
9' Oooohhhh. Kily Gonzalez receives on the left side of the Roma box then crosses to the far post, where Adriano heads wide.
8' Roma custodian Pelizzoli catches Veron's 20-yard shot.
7' Great play by the Nerazzurri. Adriano fools De Rossi and Mexes by playing the ball through to Veron. The Argentine's dangerous cross is headed out for a corner by Panucci.
6' Argentine winger Cufre's long-range shot whizzes over Toldo's bar.
5' Excellent defending by Kily, who at full stretch anticipates Panucci to a pass and concedes a corner.
4' Pelizzoli stops the ball from going out for a corner after Adriano's 25-yard shot is deflected.
3' On the right wing C.Zanetti wins the ball off Totti and crosses into the Giallorossi box. Dellas anticipates Martins and hooks clear.
2' The first chance of the match goes Roma's way. Cassano dribbles two Nerazzurri players then feeds the ball through to Montella, whose shot is saved by Toldo.
1' Welcome to the Giuseppe Meazza for Inter v Roma. Lazio beat Atalanta in tonight’s other Nerazzurri v capital side clash at the Olimpico. Let’s hope it’s the other way round here in Milan.
1' Veron's long ball for Martins is too long, and Pelizzoli collects.
1' Trefoloni blows his whistle, and Cambiasso and Veron (both scorers away to Roma earlier in the season), kick off.
1' Team news: Roberto Mancini has opted to start with Kily Gonzalez on the left wing, with Stankovic on the bench. Martins and Adriano start the match up front.
1' They say the best form of defence is attack, and that’s certainly the motto of Inter and Roma, who have scored 44 and 42 goals respectively in the Serie A so far this season.
Minute Text commentary
48' Full time. Inter beat Roma 2-0 thanks goals by Sinisa Mihajlovic.
47' GOOOOAALLL!!!!! Sinisa Mihajlovic scores his and Inter's second with another speciality free kick.
46' Mexes is booked and therefore sent off for a last-man foul on Oba Martins. The free kick is in a central position 20 yards out.
45' Three minutes of overtime.
45' Totti twists and turns and finds an inch of space for a shot but Mihajlovic is right on him and blocks the Roma captain's effort.
43' Mihajlovic's free kick comes off the wall and finishes in the hands of Pelizzoli.
42' Mexes commits yet another foul on Adriano. The free kick is 20 yards out.
41' Stankovic's near-post header from Mihajlovic's corner kick is wide.
40' Del Neri brings on Cerci for Cassano.
40' Cassano is yellow-carded.
40' Stankovic runs on to an Adriano pass then shoots at the near post. Pelizzoli saves and it's an Inter corner.
39' Mancini brings on Burdisso for Favalli. And Vieri has stopped warming up.
36' Mexes is booked (at last) for a foul on Adriano just inside the Roma half.
35' Mihajlovic's corner kick is caught by Pelizzoli.
34' Dejan Stankovic's long-range shot takes a deflection and Inter win a right-wing corner.
34' Martins squeezes between Ferrari and Mexes then sends a low shot just wide of the right post.
33' Just in case you were wondering, Vieri is still warming up on the touchline.
32' Roma win a free kick in a central position 25 yards out for a Ze Maria foul on Aquilani. Totti shoots into the Curva Sud.
31' Pelizzoli fails to make a clean catch from Mihajlovic's long-range effort and smothers the ball to deny Cambiasso a tap-in.
30' Cassano fouls the Brazilian striker and Inter win a free kick 35 yards out.
30' Adriaono controls Stankovic's headed pass but is intercepted by Cufre.
28' The Roma sub is straight into the action. His first-time shot from 20 yards is wide of the right post.
27' Roma replace De Rossi with Aquilani.
26' C.Zanetti is booked for a foul on Totti.
26' Javier Zanetti goes on one of his trademark runs down the right. He takes on two players and wins a corner.
26' Mihajlovic's inswinger is caught by Pelizzoli.
26' Mancini brings on Ze Maria for Veron.
24' Play is momentarily interrupted as a firefighter removes a flare from Toldo's six-yard box.
23' Sinisa makes another clearance, this time from Totti's cross.
22' Back at the other end Panucci's right-wing cross into the six-yard box is headed clear by Mihajlovic.
22' Inter break and a good piece of defending by Cufre denies Oba Martins.
21' Totti's free kick is blocked by the Nerazzurri wall.
20' Cordoba is yellow-carded for two-footed tackle on Totti. The free kick is 20 yards out.
20' Oba receives from Veron on the left then sees his cross blocked.
19' Inter break after a Roma attack and Martins is dispossessed by De Rossi as he tries to feed through to Adriano.
17' It's Kily's last touch of the ball as he is replaced by Dejan Stankovic.
17' Cambiasso sets up Kily. The Argentine winger's low drive from the edge of the box is wide of the right post.
16' Cordoba makes another timely clearance to deny Montella a shot from Mihajlovic's backward header.
14' Montella dribbles Favalli and Mihajlovic but there's no way past Ivan Cordoba, who is having an excellent match in defence tonight.
14' Del Neri replaces Dellas with A.Mancini to give Roma an extra attacking option.
13' Roma attack back. Toldo beats Montella to Panucci's near-post cross from the right wing.
12' Sinisa's second corner is cleared as far as Veron, whose first-time shot is blocked by the Roma defence.
12' Mihajlovic plays his corner to the far post... De Rossi anticipates Cambiasso and concedes another corner.
11' At the left-wing by-line Favalli crosses... At the far post Cufre chests the ball out for a corner.
9' Adriano's effort comes off the Giallorossi wall.
8' Dellas brings down Martins in a central position just outside the Roma box and we win a free kick.
8' Christian Vieri has started warming up on the touchline.
7' On the edge of the Roma box Adriano creates space for a shot but it finishes in the Curva Nord.
7' Martins receives from Adriano then tries to take on Perrotta but is tackled by the former Chievo midfielder.
5' Instead of shooting Totti plays to Montella, who slips and Favalli makes the clearance.
4' Cambiasso is booked for tripping Totti and it's a Giallorossi free kick 25 yards out.
3' Ex-Nerazzurri defender Ferrari beats Adriano to a cross then plays clear.
3' Martins dribbles De Rossi but the Italy midfielder falls over and Roma win a free kick deep inside their own half.
1' Roma get the second half under way and Totti boots the ball out of play for an Inter goal kick. Apparently it was an attempt on goal...
Zanetti
7.28
7.28
Zanetti
7.58
7.58
Cordoba
8.67
8.67
Toldo
8.08
8.08
Adriano
6.78
6.78
Martins
6.49
6.49
Kily Gonzalez
6.82
6.82
Stankovic
7.35
7.35
Favalli
6.32
6.32
Veron
6.6
6.6
Cambiasso
7.66
7.66
Burdisso
6.76
6.76
Mihajlovic
9.02
9.02
Ze Maria
6.14
6.14
Average rating 7.25
10 shots on target 7
9 shots off target 8
24 fouls committed 21
7 corners 6
0 offsides 5
00 ball possession 00
Mancini v Del Neri

The current Inter and Roma coaches have met on six previous occasions. Del Neri has the edge over Mancini with two victories to one (all away to Mancini's sides) and three draws.

Details:

2001/02 Serie A Fiorentina-ChievoVerona 0-2 ----
2002/03 Serie A Lazio-ChievoVerona 2-3 1-1
2003/04 Serie A Lazio-ChievoVerona 1-0 0-0
2004/05 Serie A Inter-Roma ---- 3-3

Mancini v Roma

In ten matches against Roma, Roberto Mancini has recorded one victory (his first match as a coach against the Giallorossi), four draws and five defeats, with one goal conceded in each game (total eighteen goals let in).

Details:

2000/01 Serie A Fiorentina-Roma 3-1 ----
2002 Italian Super Cup Fiorentina-Roma ---- 0-3
2001/02 Serie A Fiorentina-Roma ---- 1-2
2002/03 C. Italia Lazio-Roma 1-2 0-1
2002/03 Serie A Lazio-Roma 2-2 1-1
2003/04 Serie A Lazio-Roma 1-1 0-2
2004/05 Serie A Inter-Roma ---- 3-3

Del Neri v Inter

Del Neri has won two, lost two and drawn three of his seven matches against the Nerazzurri.

Details:

2001/02 Serie A ChievoVerona-Inter 2-2 2-1
2002/03 Serie A ChievoVerona-Inter 2-1 1-2
2003/04 Serie A ChievoVerona-Inter 0-2 0-0
2004/05 Serie A Roma-Inter 3-3 ----

Head-to-head Serie A matches

In Milan

In Rome

Total

Matches played

78

77

155

Inter wins

46

24

70

Draws

21

20

41

Roma wins

11

33

44

Inter goals

147

102

249

Roma goals

68

124

192

Disciplinary situation

Inter
Disqualified: Materazzi
Cautioned: Materazzi, Mihajlovic
Former players: Mihajlovic (69 appearances, 7 goals in competitive matches from 1992/93 to 1993/94); C.Zanetti (44 appearances, 0 goals in competitive matches from September 1999 to June 2001)

Roma
Disqualified: Dacourt
Cautioned: Cassano, De Rossi, Mancini, Totti
Former players: Ferrari (27 appearances, 0 goals in competitive matches in 2000/01); Panucci (31 appearances, 1 goal in competitive matches in 1999/00)

Red, not yellow

Eight players have been sent off in matches against Roma so far this season (more than any other team). Viali (Fiorentina), Zagorakis and Cipriani (Bologna), Emerson (Juventus), Tedesco (Reggina), Pisanu (Parma), Lazzari (Atalanta) and Ledesma (Lecce) have all been dismissed in their club's league games against the Giallorossi.

36 matches unbeaten

The last time the Nerazzurri lost a competitive match was the 2-1 defeat away to Lecce last 2 May. Since then Inter have recorded 18 victories and 18 draws in Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League matches.

Inter close to record of draws

Last weekend's 2-2 draw away to Parma was Inter's fifteenth of the 2004/05 Serie A season. With two more stalemates, the Nerazzurri will equal their record of seventeen draws in one season (1991/92).

Inter's sprint finishes

At the Tardini last weekend Inter confirmed they are particularly prolific from the 76th to 90th minutes of 2004/05 Serie A games. Including added time, 15 of the Nerazzurri's 44 league goals this season have come in the final fifteen-minute periods of matches. That's 34% of the total.

Four likely scorers against Roma

With 2 out of his 11 Italian goals against Roma, the Giallorossi are Edgar Davids' favourite target. The same goes for Alvaro Recoba (75 goals in competitive matches in Italy), who has scored 6 against Roma, Bologna and Lecce, and Dejan Stankovic - 3 against Roma, AC Milan, Parma and Greek side Panionios (the Serb has scored 44 goals in Italy). With 3 out of his 21 Italian goals against the Giallorossi, Roma are also Ze Maria's favourite target.

Vieri v Montella

Christian Vieri and Vincenzo Montella are the two most prolific players in the Serie A. Vieri has scored 128 goals (including the one initially given to Materazzi in the match away to Livorno), while Montella has netted 130. The Inter striker has scored 10 goals against Roma, who together with Bologna and Verona are his second-favourite target after Perugia (12 goals). Inter are also Montella's second-favourite target - the Roma forward has scored 11 against the Nerazzurri, 12 against Fiorentina and 11 against goalkeepers Toldo and Pagliuca.

Seven Roma players on target

Roma, Brescia, Messina, Palermo and Siena are the five 2004/05 Serie A teams to have scored with the lowest number of players: 7. Totti, Montella, Cassano, Mancini, Dellas, De Rossi and Perrotta have scored for the capital side (total 42 goals).

Roma on target in 11 consecutive matches

The Giallorossi have scored in each of their last eleven league matches, with a total of 23 goals.

Del Neri's black February

According to the statistics, February is the Roma coach's worst month of the year. In 45 matches, Gigi Del Neri has registered 15 wins, 21 draws and 9 defeats - a points per match average of 1.47.

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(48) draws(29) defeats(16)
MILAN - It was billed as a clash between the Serie A's two best attacks, but it was Inter defender Sinisa Mihajlovic who grabbed the limelight with goals in each half to send Roma to a 2-0 defeat in a tight Week 24 match at the Meazza.

The victory sees Mancini's Nerazzurri beat Gianni Invernizzi's long unbeaten run in 1970/71 and set a new club record of 27 league matches without defeat.

With both defences in fine form, this encounter was always going to be decided by set pieces, and Mihajlovic opened the scoring on 23 minutes with a curling free kick which went over the Giallorossi wall and in at the near post.

Roma fought back immediately and heroics from Francesco Toldo denied Totti from a follow-up shot after his first attempt from a free kick was blocked. Ivan Cordoba kept the Nerazzurri in front with a superb tackle on Montella to prevent the Roma striker from grabbing a half-time equaliser.

Sinisa made extra sure of the points in injury time at the end of the second half, beating Pelizzoli with another free kick into the bottom corner after Philippe Mexes was dismissed for a last-man foul on Obafemi Martins.

The result moves Inter back up to third spot with Udinese in action tomorrow, and sees Roma remain without a win in Milan since September 1994.

The Nerazzurri are back in action this Wednesday with Atalanta at home in the Coppa Italia quarter-final return leg.

INTER 1-0 ROMA (HT: 1-0)

Scorers: Mihajlovic 23, 90+2

INTER: 1 Toldo, 2 Cordoba, 4 J.Zanetti, 6 C.Zanetti, 10 Adriano, 11 Mihajlovic, 14 Veron (13 Zè Maria 71), 16 Favalli (3 Burdisso 84), 18 Kily Gonzalez (25 Stankovic 62), 19 Cambiasso, 30 Martins
Subs notused: 15 Carini, 8 Davids, 9 Cruz, 32 Vieri
Coach: Roberto Mancini

ROMA: 22 Pelizzoli, 2 Panucci , 4 De Rossi (23 Aquilani 72), 5 Mexes, 8 Ferrari, 9 Montella, 10 Totti, 18 Cassano (26 Cerci 85), 20 Perrotta, 25 Cufrè, 31 Dellas (30 A.Mancini 59)
Subs not used: 12 Zotti, 3 Xavier, 19 Scurto, 28 Virga
Coach: Luigi Del Neri

Referee: Matteo Trefoloni

Booked: Perrotta 17, Cambiasso 59, Cordoba 65, C.Zanetti 71, Mexes 81, Cassano 85
Sent off: Mexes 90+1

starting lineups

Toldo 1 Pelizzoli
Cordoba 2 Panucci
Zanetti 4 De Rossi
Zanetti 6 Mexes
Adriano 10 Ferrari
Mihajlovic 11 Montella
Veron 14 Totti
Favalli 16 Cassano
Kily Gonzalez 18 Perrotta
Cambiasso 19 Cufrè
Martins 30 Dellas

substitutes

Carini 15 Zotti
Burdisso 3 Xavier
Davids 8 Scurto
Cruz 9 Aquilani
Ze Maria 13 Cerci
Stankovic 25 Virga
Vieri 32 A.Mancini