ROME, May 4: Inter Milan put a season of woe behind them here on Monday night as Ronaldo" and Ivan Zamorano yiudvd them to a sensational 5-4 win over AS Roma in Roy Hodgson's first match back in charge, reports AFP.
Inter's Latin American stars stole the show for the English coach, with Argentine Diego Simeone snatching victory three minutes from (he end before a disbelieving crowd at the Olympic stadium.
It was a memorable match for the Serie A; one that was postponed from Sunday because of celebrations here for the beatification of Padre Pio.
But Ronaldo and Zamorano showed they had not lost their divine touch by giving Inter a 2-0 lead before Roma's 22-year-oid skipper Francesco Totti pulled one back in the 22nd minute.
Zamorano bagged a superb second in the 35tnbut two goals in as many minutes just after the re-start, from Paulo Sergio and Marco Delvecchio, turned the match around as Roma roared back to 3-3.
Zamorano teed up Ronaldo for the simplest of goals in the 56th minute, only for Eusebio Di Francesco to drill home a 79th minute equaliser, setting the stage for Simeone's dramatic winner.
Hodgson said: 'You don’t see nine goals in a match very often in Italy, or anywhere else for that matter. But these were great goals on both sides and I don’t want to say it was the defences' fault.
Recalling his week-old mission here. Hodgson said: "We are trying to finish the season with dignity. And perhaps this great win, against a Roma of this class, will give us optimism for the future.
AS Roma coach Zdenek Zeman kept his explanation as
concise as ever, insisting his team are not out of the race for a Champions' League slot.
Inter started off looking slow and predictable moving forward, Hodgson's team clearly happy just to bide their time tor the right moment.
That moment came in the 17th minute when Baggio took Siossession in a crowded mid-ield. looked up and as Ronaldo started instinctively to move, sent over a perfectly flighted through-ball.
The Brazilian deftly collected the pass, rounded Austrian goalkeeper Michael Kon-sel and slotted the ball home with consummate ease.
Five minutes later, Baggio picked out the unmarked Zamorano with a low cross from the right flank and the Chilean scooped the ball first time into the roof of the net.
It was a dream start for the visitors but harsh reality was just four minutes away when Paulo Sergio, who had a hand in all his team's goals, was sent to the floor in a crowded area and Totti converted the spotkick.
But just as it looked as though the tables were turning. Inter pulled a third goal out of the hat.
- Argentine Javier Zanetti surged down the middle, flicked the ball wide for Zamorano, past three Roma defenders, and the Chilean scampered through to beat Konsel with a classy angled chip-shot into the far corner.
Roma hit back immediately and only two miraculous saves by goalkeeper Gianluca Pagli-uca defied first Frenchman Vincent Candela and then Delvecchio from point blank range before the break.
However, Inter’s defence was caught napping twice in the first four minutes of the second half as Roma roared back to 3-3.
Damiano Tommasi floated a
dipping cross into the area and Paulo Sergio nipped in between Diego Simeone and Pagliuca to noathe ball home.
Two minutes later, it was the Brazilian’s turn to provide the service, his cross from the right being met with Delvecchio's glancing header, and the ball flashing past a static Pagliuca before ricocheting in off the post.
Inter finally looked in the deep trouble which most people had expected after their disastrous season, but they hauled themselves out of it with another breakaway goal in the 56th minute.
Baggio sent the ball to Zamorano, who sprinted away down the right and instead of choosing to shoot, unselfishly picked out an unmarked Ronaldo who slotted into an empty net.
Roma refused to be beaten and their attacking football paid off yet again, thanks though t'o a fair dollop of luck.
Paulo Sergio hopelessly miscued a shot from outside the area, the ball spun out of control but finished on the head of Totti who nodded it down for Di Francesco to steer home from 10 metres.
Both sides had ifeadOrf to rue the closing minutes, "with Ronaldo seeing a possible hat-trick disallowed for off-side and Delvecchio failing to connect with a low cross for a certain goal.
But Inter had the final say when Baggio chipped over a free-kick from the right-hand side of the area and Simeone rose amongst a crowd of players to head the ball into the lefthand corner.
It could not have finished better for Hodgson, recalled after a two-year absence last week, and whose job is to earn as many points as possible in the last three matches of the season in a bid to win a UEFA Cup place.