Eto'o brace wins Italian Cup for Inter Milan

Published May. 29, 2011 10:23 p.m. ET

foxsports

Samuel Eto'o scored two goals to lift Inter Milan to a 3-1 win over Palermo in the Italian Cup final on Sunday.

His goals either side of halftime set Inter on its way to the defense of the last of its remaining trophies from the three it won in 2010 and gave the Cameroon striker 37 in all competitions this season.

''It is an enormous win,'' Inter coach Leonardo said. ''It has been a strange year for me and a strange year for Inter, but it was a good game and an important win for us.

''It was a very difficult game, but I am delighted with the attitude of our team. We didn't stop working and didn't stop fighting.''

Palermo had a number of chances in both halves, but was unable to find a way past Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar, until Ezequiel Munoz pulled a goal back with two minutes to go.

Munoz was then sent off and in injury time Diego Milito put the seal on the win when he sidefooted in from close range.

The loss meant the 35,000 Palermo fans who flocked to the Olympic Stadium will have to wait another year for a chance to see their team win its first ever trophy, but could content themselves with Europa League action next season.

''We have grown and done some fantastic things over the last four years,'' Palermo midfielder Giulio Migliaccio said. ''We showed how we could play tonight. It was always going to be difficult against Inter, but we can go home with our heads held high.''