Inter beat Palermo 3-1 at a packed Stadio Olimpico last night to lift the Italian Cup and rescue an otherwise disappointing season.
It was Inter’s fourth cup success in the last seven years and Palermo’s third defeat in as many trips to the final.
Samuel Eto’o was the hero for Inter, scoring a brace and taking his season’s tally for the club to 37 goals in all competitions.
Ezequiel Munoz briefly gave Palermo hope late on, although he was subsequently sent off, before Diego Milito sealed the victory in injury time.
Palermo had the better start as Abel Hernandez fired into the side-netting in the first minute.
Their best chance came on 18 minutes as Javier Pastore and Josip Ilicic played a one-two but the Argentine’s touch was too heavy and goalkeeper Julio Cesar came out to smother.
Pastore then shot over but Inter scored from their first attack after Palermo midfielder Afriyie Acquah lost the ball in midfielder under pressure from Thiago Motta.
The ball broke to Wesley Sneij-der who quickly played it inside full-back Mattia Cassani and Eto’o latched onto the ball at pace to slide it past Salvatore Sirigu.
That took the sting out of Palermo and Inter came closer to scoring again before the break when Sneijder fired a free-kick over.
However, the Sicilians were back on the front foot after the restart and substitute Fabrizio Miccoli brought a fine save out of Cesar on the hour mark with a flash header from a right-wing cross.
Dejan Stankovic threw himself in front of a Hernandez shot and Inter also survived a frantic goalmouth scramble after Ilicic’s clever back-heel put Cassani behind the backline and his cross caused panic in the box.
But as they pushed forward for an equaliser, Palermo left themselves vulnerable at the back and another ball lost in midfield, when Sneijder robbed Giulio Migliaccio, saw the Dutchman slip in Eto’o again to fire across Sirigu and settle the game 14 minutes from time.
It could have been worse still for the Sicilians as goalkeeper Sirigu pulled off a diving save to deny the excellent Sneijder four minutes from time.
But two minutes later Munoz was left totally free at the back post to head home Miccoli’s corner without an Inter defender within touching distance to set up a grandstand finish.
In a crazy finale, Munoz was wrongly sent off after winning the ball against McDonald Mariga, the referee deeming it a foul, and Eto’o crashed the resulting free-kick against the bar.
Then in injury time Goran Pandev teed up Milito to snatch the third.
Last 10 winners
2002 Parma; 2003 Milan; 2004 Lazio; 2005 Inter; 2006 Inter; 2007 Roma; 2008 Roma; 2009 Lazio; 2010 Inter; 2011 Inter.
Results
Serie B – last day
AlbinoLeffe 1 - Siena 0
Ascoli 3 - Triestina 0
Cittadella 3 - Pescara 2
Grosseto 1 - Atalanta 1
Sassuolo 3 - Reggina 2
Torino 0 - Padova 2
Varese 1 - Piacenza 0
Livorno 2 - Frosinone 1
Novara 2 - Modena 3
Portogruaro 2 - Crotone 2
Vicenza 1 - Empoli 1
Note: Semi-final play-offs for promotion (3rd vs 6th and 4th vs 5th) will be played over two legs (June 2 and 5).
Final (two legs): June 9 and 12.
Relegation play-off: (18th vs 19th) June 4 and 11.
Prima Divisione A
Promotion play-offs (first legs): Verona vs Sorrento 2-0; Salernitana vs Alessandria 1-1.
Relegation deciders (first legs): Alto Adige vs Ravenna 1-0; Monza vs Pergocrema 1-0.
Promoted: Gubbio.
Relegated: Paganese.
Prima Divisione B
Promotion play-offs (first legs): Juve Stabia vs Benevento 1-0; Taranto vs Atletico Roma 0-1.
Relegation deciders (first legs): Viareggio vs Cosenza 3-1; Foligno vs Ternana 1-0.
Promoted: Nocerina.
Relegated: Cavese.