Thursday, May 08, 2008

Inter vs. Roma For Coppa Italia Crown

At Catania, Italy:

AS Roma, still with a shot at overtaking Inter Milan for the Serie A crown, held relegation-threatened Catania to a 1-1 home draw in game two of their semifinal-round set in the Italian Cup tournament, allowing them to take the series 2-1 on aggregate.

Serie A leaders Inter and second-placed Roma are assured of a Champions League place next season so Italy's third UEFA Cup spot will now go to the seventh-placed team in the league. AC Milan, Fiorentina, Udinese and Sampdoria, one of whom will go into the Champions League qualifiers, are therefore guaranteed a UEFA Cup spot because eighth-placed Genoa cannot overhaul them with two games left. Midfielder Alberto Aquilani converted a penalty on 27 minutes after Mirko Vucinic was fouled to put Roma in full command of the semi-final, second leg following their 1-0 win in last month's first leg. Cristian Silvestri headed in a free kick unmarked for the hosts two minutes later and the Sicilians could have had a penalty when Roma goalkeeper Gianluca Curci pushed Marco Biagianti, but generally the visitors controlled the game.

Roma will play Inter in the Cup final in Rome on May 24.

No comments: