The end of the 2001-2002 season, saw Inter coming down to the Olimpico to gain the Scudetto. For Inter it was easy, beating Lazio was enough for the Championship.
The table showed on the last game : Inter 69, Juventus 68, Roma 67.
As Inter played against Lazio, Juve had to play in Udinese, and Roma in Torino.
Juve and Roma hoped that Lazio would do their job, but Olimpico was packed with 40.000 laziali and 40.000 Interisti, with only one mission. Handing the Scudetto over to Inter.
But Lazio needed a win to gain the UEFA Cup, but the fans didn't wanted that after a poor season. They prefered an Inter Scudetto over a Lazio in Europe.
In Udinese v Juventus there was already an early 0-2 score for Juve.
Inter took the lead against Lazio, 0-1 Vieri. Then Inzaghi equalised 1-1, but before half-time Inter was in front again, 1-2 with Di Biagio.
The Olimpic Stadium was in a party mood, Inter touched already a half Scudetto.
But in the 2nd half their dream burst into pieces. Lazio came back into the game, Simeone equalized 2-2. And later on Poborsky scored twice, to give Lazio a 4-2 victory.
Inter was into tears, after waiting 13 years for the Scudetto, they lost it in 45 minutes. Juventus won in Udinese, gaining their 26th Championship.
Also Roma won in Torino 0-1, jumping so over Inter in second place.
Lazio finished 6th that season, giving right to enter the UEFA Cup.
Inter had to wait till 2006, to gain their Scudetto, thanks to the Calciopoli scandal. From 2007 on, till present they've won 4 Scudetto's in a row, easing off the pain still remembered by that 5th of May, 2002.
(Claudio Pazke)