Goran Pandev and Massimo Mutarelli had put the high-flying Biancocelesti two goals to the good within the opening four minutes, put Crespo had the hosts level 10 minutes before half-time.

Parity was retored for only two minutes, however, before Cristian Ledesma put Lazio back ahead.

The visitors from the Eternal City held that advantage until the 81st minute, when Crespo again levelled before Materazzi notched the winner.

Lazio's misery was compounded by the late dismissal of Sebastiano Siviglia for dissent.

The result was a welcome return to winning ways for Roberto Mancini's team, who were crushed 6-2 by Roma in the first leg of the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday to all but end their hopes of a league and cup double.

It could hardly have been a worse start for the home side, with Pandev latching onto Ledesma's clever assist and firing a left-footed shot from outside the penalty into the top-right corner after three minutes.

Sixty seconds later, Mutarelli headed home a corner to double the visitors' advantage.

Italy defender Materazzi looked to halve the deficit in the sixth minute but his header missed to the left.

Luciano Zauri had a chance to extend his side's lead in the 10th minute but shot wide from the left side of the penalty box.

Dejan Stankovic did likewise moments later as Inter looked to get back into it.

Crespo had his first sight of goal on the quarter-hour mark, with his right-footed shot from Alvaro Recoba's cross deflected out for a corner.

Recoba was again the provider two minutes later, but again the Argentinian frontman could not find the target.

In the 20th minute Crespo did get his side back in the game by finding the top-left corner with a left-footed shot from Maicon's pass.

Pandev and Mutarelli both had opportunities to restore Lazio's two-goal cushion but failed to capitalise, before Marco Ballotta was called into action at the other end to dive and keep out Recoba's left-footed drive.

However, Ballotta was powerless to keep out the equaliser in the 35th minute, only able to look on as Crespo arrowed a right-footed shot into his top-left corner.

Ledesma put Lazio back ahead almost instantly, though, with a right-footed shot from the left into the bottom-right corner.

After such a frantic first half the action dried up in terms of goals immediately after the restart, although the chances continued to flow.

Nicolas Burdisso had two decent headers from good positions, one blocked by Ballotta and another directed too high from Crespo's cross.

Julio Cesar spread himself well to keep out Luis Jimenez's long-range shot as the action continued to switch from end to end.

The Inter goalkeeper again had to be alert 11 minutes from time to keep out Stephen Makinwa's right-footed shot from a central position.

And two minutes later Inter were level as Crespo finished off a splendid hat-trick with a right-footed shot from close range following a neat pass from substitute Mariano Gonzalez.

With Siviglia shown a red card for his over-vociferous complaints, Inter wasted little time in making the extra man count.

Five minutes from the end and the comeback was complete as Materazzi headed home Stankovic's cross to seal a memorable win.