Inter Milan 4 AS Roma 3: Inter win Italian Supercup
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Your support makes all the difference.Luis Figo curled in a free kick four minutes into extra time to complete Inter Milan's rally from a three-goal deficit for a 4-3 victory over AS Roma on Saturday - and give it the Italian Supercup title.
The Portuguese midfielder curled the ball over the Roma defensive wall from 25 meters to hand Inter a second consecutive victory in the traditional Italian season opener.
Roma led 3-0 after 34 minutes before Patrick Vieira scored the first of two just before halftime. Hernan Crespo pulled Inter within a goal in the 65th and Vieira equalized nine minutes later to send the Supercup to force extra time for a second year.
Winger Amantino Mancini headed in Roma's first goal in the 13th, beating Inter goalkeeper Francesco Toldo to a pinpoint cross from Roma right back Christian Panucci.
Midfielder Alberto Aquilani added two more, his first in the 25th minute after exchanging passes with Roma captain Francesco Totti, and his second in the 34th, tapping in defender Taddei's pass across the face of the goal.
Vieira scored for Inter just before halftime, heading in a Luis Figo free kick. In the second half, Vieira and Figo combined to lead Inter's rally in the midfield.
Inter coach Roberto Mancini replaced Adriano with Hernan Crespo in the 61st, and the change produced four minutes later when the Argentine beating Roma defender Christian Chivu to Zlatan Ibrahimovic's cross to get Inter within a goal.
Vieira got Inter back on level terms with his second in the 74th, tapping in Ibrahimovic's misdirected shot from close range.
Sweden striker Ibrahimovic, who looked short of form despite his two assists, could have won it for Inter in regular time but pushed his shot wide of the right post just before the final whistle.
Figo, in his second season at Inter, was the game's standout player, confounding Roma with his footwork and high work rate.
For Roma, Aquilani impressed in the first half with some intelligent off-the-ball running and composure when in possession.
The 19th edition of the Italian Supercup, at Milan's San Siro stadium, was an early test of two of the favorites for the Serie A title this season.
"It was the first game," said Inter coach Mancini. "It's important to start well. We're two strong teams but there are other good teams too. It's not all a foregone conclusion. It's going to be a tough league season."
The Serie A season begins Sept. 9-10.
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