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Francesco Totti ensured Inter's Scudetto party turned into their first Serie A defeat of the season!
The Scudetto showdown was postponed from February 3 due to the Catania riots, but the timing could not have been more perfect, as Inter needed only a victory in this game to mathematically earn their first Scudetto on the field since May 28, 1989. These sides will meet again in the Coppa Italia Final, but of the two previous meetings this season - including the Italian Super Cup - Inter have won both.
The Nerazzurri were coming off two consecutive draws, while Walter Samuel, Maxwell and Hernan Crespo were out of action. Roma had Rodrigo Taddei, Alberto Aquilani and Marco Cassetti sidelined. Daniele De Rossi suffered an ankle problem in the warm-up, but was able to start.
Dejan Stankovic and Amantino Mancini drilled wide from distance before Zlatan Ibrahimovic had timid penalty appeals for a tussle with Christian Panucci. Mancini blasted well wide and Luis Figo was halted for an incorrect offside flag.
Francesco Totti was unable to keep his header down from a chipped Cristian Wilhelmsson cross.
Roma had a sensational double opportuity to take the lead on 20 minutes. Julio Cesar beat away a Totti snapshot and as Simone Perrotta fired towards the empty net, Douglas Maicon got his head in the way for a decisive goalline clearance.
Perrotta again threatened, smashing a long-range drive inches over the top corner.
Roma continued to have the best chances at San Siro, as Cristian Chivu's fantastic free kick whipped past Julio Cesar and on to the roof of the net. Ibrahimovic's set-piece from a similar position was tame.
Panucci's cross from the right found a fine Perrotta volley that shaved a coat of paint off the upright.
Inter finally made an impact on 37 minutes, as a Dejan Stankovic screamer from almost 20 metres smashed against the crossbar.
Roma also shook the frame of the goal moments later. Julio Cesar had to get a fingertip to Mancini's stunning right-foot shot and the ball looped up on to the bar to bounce back towards safety.
The Giallorossi broke through on the stroke of half-time with a long move that Inter could not seem to clear. After several shots were charged down, Chivu got to the by-line and cut back for the on-rushing Perrotta to tap in from six yards.
Inter came out fighting for the second half, as within seconds Figo went on a slalom down the left and Stankovic's shot was accidentally charged down by teammate Adriano! Alexander Doni rushed out to block Ibrahimovic, but Javier Zanetti was booked for a very late tackle from behind on Wilhelmsson.
There was controversy when Adriano ran on to Ibrahimovic's through ball and found his path blocked off by Doni, blatantly throwing himself to the ground. Referee Matteo Simone Trefoloni fell for the dive, though, and pointed to the spot. Marco Materazzi stepped up to convert into the far top corner.
On 58 points there was an extraordinary opportunity for Inter to take the lead. Adriano's deflected header was incredibly pushed on to the inside of the upright by Doni's fingertips and Esteban Cambiasso's follow-up was charged down by defensive bodies.
Roberto Mancini threw on Olivier Dacourt and Julio Cruz for Fabio Grosso and Adriano.
Stankovic unleashed another of his trademark snapshots from 20 metres that Doni fingertipped round the base of the upright, as Inter were now dominating.
Maicon's angled drive skimmed the upright as if flashed across the face of goal, again from a Figo assist.
Inter had penalty appeals on 84 minutes, but it was Cruz who had pulled Matteo Ferrari's jersey rather than the other way round. The move continued with Figo felled on the line, but Ibrahimovic's free kick hit the wall.
Roma's free kick also hit the defensive wall, but this time Totti's set-piece deflected off Figo's shoulder to leave Julio Cesar stranded on the other side of the goal! The Giallorossi went 2-1 up with only one minute of regular time to go.
There were five minutes of stoppages and Cruz's header looped over the bar.
Figo volleyed over from 10 yards, but Roma made it 3-1 in the final seconds when De Rossi found acres of space and substitute Marco Cassetti's angled drive went in off the inside of the far post.
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