Roma wins 2nd straight Italian Cup

Rome: AS Roma beat Inter Milan 2-1 in the Italian Cup final, claiming a second straight title and earning some measure of revenge for finishing second in the Serie A.

Philippe Mexes and Simone Perrotta put Roma ahead 2-0 by the 54th minute and the club prevailed for its ninth title to equal Juventus for most Italian Cup crowns.

It was the fourth straight year Roma and Inter have met in the final. Inter won in 2005 and 2006 to increase its title haul to five.

Mexes cut in front of three Inter players to score with a low shot in the 36th minute. It was the Frenchman's second goal of the season with the other coming during league play. Perrotta made it 2-0 in the 54th by tapping in a pass from Mirko Vucinic.

Vitor Hugo Gomes Passos, who came on as a replacement at the beginning of the second half, scored for Inter in the 60th with a hard shot from well outside the area that surprised Roma goalkeeper Alexander Doni.

Gomes Passos scored a similar goal in the Italian Cup semifinals to help Inter through to the final.

After finishing three points behind Inter -- which won its third straight Serie A title last weekend, Roma started quickly, creating more chances and dominating the first half at Stadio Olimpico.

It had been 28 years since the Italian Cup was decided in a single game -- the last time in 1980 at the same stadium when Roma defeated Torino on penalties.