Milan complete perfect week

AC Milan rounded off a successful week by defeating AS Roma in the Coppa Italia final as a 2-2 draw in the second leg sealed a 6-3 aggregate victory.

European triumph
Milan, who won the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night with a 3-2 penalty shoot-out victory against fellow Italian side Juventus FC, kicked off defending a comfortable 4-1 advantage from the first leg.

Early pressure
However, despite the large deficit facing Fabio Capello's side in the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, the away side began the better, and might have taken the lead in the ninth minute as captain Francesco Totti forced a save from Christian Abbiati with a powerful right-foot shot. The goalkeeper could only parry the strike and the rebound fell for Walter Samuel, but the Argentinian defender could only head wide.

Disallowed effort
In front of 78,000 fans celebrating Milan's midweek European success, Roma had the ball in the net two minutes later as Antonio Cassano's quick free-kick enabled Totti to put the ball over the line, but the referee called play back for the set piece to be retaken.

Seedorf goes close
Milan came more into the match as the half wore on, and Paolo Maldini's cross found Clarence Seedorf at the far post, but the Dutch midfield player volleyed wide. In a pulsating first half, Totti came close again just before half-time, as his close-range effort forced another good save from Abbiati.

Second-half breakthrough
Totti finally broke the deadlock after half-time, curling a free-kick into the net from the edge of the penalty area. The Roma playmaker then doubled his side's lead in similar fashion, scoring with a free-kick from 30 metres to give his side faint hope of finding a way back into the tie.

Instant response
However, from the restart, Serginho's left-wing cross found Rivaldo, and the Brazilian forward headed into the net to put Milan back in control. Cassano was then dismissed for dissent and, although Roma's Marco Delvecchio hit the post with a looping header from outside the penalty area after 80 minutes, Totti's dismissal four minutes from time ended their challenge.

Last-minute equaliser
Milan drew level on the night and restored their three-goal aggregate advantage three minutes into injury time, as Rivaldo created the chance for Filippo Inzaghi and the Italian international striker made no mistake.