Two-goal Eto'o fires Inter to more glory

FC Internazionale Milano recovered from a goal down to beat AS Roma 3-1 at San Siro and win the Italian Super Cup for the fifth time.

It is the Nerazzurri's fourth trophy in as many months having won the Scudetto, Coppa Italia and UEFA Champions League last season, and the first for Rafael Benítez as Inter coach after replacing José Mourinho in the summer. More silverware could be forthcoming on Friday when the Serie A outfit play Club Atlético de Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup in Monaco.

Benítez said: "We showed very strong character, especially after conceding the goal. It was the first competitive game of the season so it's normal not to have fresh legs right from the start but I'm very happy with the reaction of the team."

Roma were dangerous on the counterattack in the early stages and, after Mirko Vučinić and Jérémy Menez had wasted promising chances, it was no surprise when they took a 21st-minute lead. John Arne Riise sprung the offside trap and dispatched Francesco Totti's defence-splitting pass beyond Júlio César.

Inter posed the greater threat thereafter, primarily through Maicon's thrusting runs down the right, though it took a defensive mistake to bring them level four minutes before the break when Vučinić played a risky pass to Juan, whose failure to control let in Goran Pandev.

The Giallorossi started the second half as they did the first, threatening through a Menez volley and a long-range effort from Riise. Diego Milito then had an effort disallowed for offside but was instrumental in helping Inter take the lead after 71 minutes, finding space on the right and crossing low for Samuel Eto'o to finish from close range. Nine minutes later the Cameroon striker confirmed victory by dispossessing Rodrigo Taddei and finishing with a precise low shot after a one-two with Wesley Sneijder.

Claudio Ranieri, the Roma coach, said: "The key to the game was probably our mistake just before the interval when we gave them the chance to equalise. However, we continued to play well in the second half and I don't think 3-1 is a fair result considering the performances of the two teams."