AS Roma 2 - 1 Inter Milan: Kostas Manolas heads Roma to thrilling victory over Inter Milan

Posted Monday, October 03, 2016 by PA

Kostas Manolas had the final word in Roma's scintillating 2-1 victory over Inter Milan.

Edin Dzeko lit the touchpaper on an end-to-end encounter at the Stadio Olimpico, which could well have swung Inter's way had Ever Banega managed to add to his lone second-half goal.

Greek defender Manolas kept all three points in the Eternal City with his 76th-minute headed winner.

Dzeko's opener arrived after only five minutes, foreshadowing what would be an action-packed game.

Mohamed Salah, part of a three-pronged attack with Diego Perotti and Dzeko, found Bruno Peres on the overlap and the ball came back inside for the big Bosnian to tuck past Samir Handanovic.

Inter responded immediately and fiercely as Banega clattered the frame of the Roma goal with Wojciech Szczesny left stranded.

The Giallorossi did not wait long to repeat the trick as Joao Mario's mistake in the 21st minute allowed Dzeko to find Salah in acres of space, with the Egyptian unlucky to smash against a post.

The chances kept coming and Roma enjoyed two inside a few seconds as Handanovic pushed Salah's shot away, only for Alessandro Florenzi to crack a follow-up straight at the goalkeeper.

Ivan Perisic ensured there would be no pause for breath when bursting into the area to test Szczesny with an angled drive.

Inter should have levelled just before the break but Roma had Manolas to thank for clearing Cristian Ansaldi's daisy-cutter off the line before Szczesny leapt to catch Antonio Candreva's volley.

Hostilities resumed with fervour after the restart, with Perotti cutting inside from the left before testing Handanovic's reflexes with a swerving low attempt.

The ball was soon up the other end where Perisic reacquainted himself with Szczesny, the Polish stopper coming out on top on this occasion.

Banega would have better luck in the 72nd minute as a quick exchange with Mauro Icardi put Daniele De Rossi on the ground before Szczesny was beaten at his near post.

The Nerazzurri celebrated wildly in front of a muted Olimpico crowd, who were cheering again only four minutes later.

Florenzi's powerfully taken free-kick met the head of Manolas and the ball found its way home thanks to a deflection off Icardi.

Roma were keen to kill the game off before Inter could launch a late fightback but Dzeko was denied his second goal of the game by a fantastic flying save from Handanovic in the 87th minute.