Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2007-08 Serie A Giornata 6 - Roma vs. Inter (29.09.2007, "Olimpico" Rome)
ROMA: Doni, C. Panucci (Cicinho '69), P. Mexes, Juan, M. Tonetto, D. De Rossi, D. Pizarro, L. Giuly, S. Perrotta, A. Mancini (M. Vucinic '69), F. Totti (c) (M. Esposito '76)
Manager: Luciano Spalletti
INTER: Julio Cesar, J. Zanetti (c), I. Cordoba, W. Samuel, Maxwell, D. Stankovic, O. Dacourt (H. Crespo '51), E. Cambiasso, L. Figo (Pelé '77), Z. Ibrahimović (J. Cruz '51), Cesar
Manager: Roberto Mancini
REFEREE: Nicola Rizzoli
GOALS: Ibrahimović (pen) '29 (0:1), Perrotta '53 (1:1), Crespo '57 (1-2), Cruz '60 (1-3), Cordoba '66 (1-4)
BOOKED: Giuly '28 (sent off), Samuel '45, Pizarro '73
TIMECODES:
01:22 Zlatan makes back heel one-touch pass
04:21 - 06:23 Maxwell counter attacks, Doni parried a Cesar shot and Giuly was shown a straight red for handling Ibrahimovic's header, Zlatan scores a penalty kick
08:51 Zlatan intercepts pass by Juan, goes forward and gets tackled then injured by Juan
SUMMARY - Defending champions Inter thrashed ten-man Roma 4-1 at the Olimpico to move three points clear at the top of the Serie A table.
Roma made the brighter start and could have taken an early lead but Julio Cesar kept out Totti's thunderous free kick and Mancini's left-footed follow-up shot. The Nerazzurri's first chance fell to Ibrahimovic who shielded from Mexes and turned quickly before sending a weak shot at Doni. Inter kept up the pressure and went close again when Cambiasso tested the Roma custodian with a volleyed effort from the edge of the box after Zanetti's right-wing cross spun off Juan. The breakthrough came after a counter-attack on 28 minutes. Doni parried a Cesar shot and Giuly was shown a straight red for handling Ibrahimovic's subsequent header. The Swedish forward dispatched the resulting penalty low to Doni's right to put the Nerazzurri in front.
Inter lost Ibrahimovic and Dacourt to injury early in the second half. Mancini threw on Argentine forwards Crespo and Cruz and reverted to a 4-4-2 formation. Roma took advantage of the Nerazzurri's tactical switch and equalised through Simone Perrotta who lashed home from close range after a defensive mistake by Maxwell. But the Giallorossi's leveller was short-lived as Inter stepped up a gear and stunned their opponents with three goals in nine minutes. Cruz struck the post with a sweet right-foot shot from just inside the Roma box. Crespo restored Inter's lead on 57 minutes, volleying in after Cambiasso's shot was parried by Doni. Cruz then opened up a two-goal advantage with a low screamer from distance after receiving from Figo. Cordoba killed off the game in the 66th, rising at the far post to power home Figo's pin-point left-wing cross.