ROME, June 13: Brazil striker Adriano scored twice as Inter Milan cruised to a 2-0 win over AS Roma in the first leg of the Italian Cup final at Rome’s Olympic Stadium on Sunday. Adriano’s double left Roma with a mountain to climb in the return at the San Siro on Wednesday to prevent Inter picking up their first domestic silverware since the Serie A title in 1989.

Roma started brightly but a 35-metre rocket by Adriano on the half hour mark put the visitors ahead.

The striker grabbed his second six minutes later, heading in from close range after a foul by Cristian Chivu had gifted Inter a free kick on the edge of the area.

Had Roma’s finishing been better, they might have been two goals up within the opening six minutes.

Less than thirty seconds had elapsed when Francesco Totti accelerated into Inter’s area and laid the ball off to strike partner Antonio Cassano to fire straight at keeper Francesco Toldo.

Another great run by the Roma captain, this time down the right, ended with him cutting the ball back across the area for Cassano, who fired against the foot of the post.

Even as Roma lost some of the fluidity of their early passing, they continued to look more likely to score.

It was no surprise, therefore, that when Adriano’s first goal unexpectedly arrived — curling away from goalie Gianluca Curci — Roma were left looking a little shell-shocked.

They had no time to dwell on their misfortune. Chivu’s foul on Javier Zanetti gave Inter a free kick from a position that effectively made it a short corner.

Ze Maria whipped the ball across the face of goal and Adriano muscled in front of his marker to head into the roof of the net.

After the interval Roma coach Bruno Conti introduced a third striker, Vincenzo Montella, in an attempt to haul his team back into contention. Montella did force Toldo into a diving save eight minutes from time but Roma finished well-beaten.—Reuters