Ibrahimovic tallies twice to lift Internazionale

Oct 19, 2008 - 8:48 PM By PA SportsTicker

Zlatan Ibrahimovic fired Internazionale to the top of Serie A on Sunday with two goals in a 4-0 demolition of Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.

Ibrahimovic scored either side of halftime before two goals in as many second-half minutes from Dejan Stankovic and Victor Obinna sealed the points for the reigning champions.

Below Internazionale only two points separated second and 10th, with Udinese the Nerazzurri's closest challengers following a 2-2 draw at Lecce.

The hosts established a 2-0 lead thanks to Simone Tiribocchi's first-half strike and an own goal from Maurizio Domizzi after the break, but Udinese rallied and Alexis Sanchez pulled one back before Gaetano D'Agostino leveled the scores.

Also two points behind Inter after Sunday's matches were Catania and Napoli.

Catania maintained its 100 percent home record by beating 10-man Palermo in the Sicily derby.

Jorge Martinez put the home side ahead midway through the second half and a penalty from Giuseppe Mascara with four minutes to go settled the affair.

The visitors had to play the entire second period a man light following the dismissal of Palermo defender Moris Carrozzieri on the stroke of halftime.

Napoli posted a 2-1 triumph over Juventus on Saturday.

A point behind Napoli is Lazio, which relinquished its place at the top of Serie A on Sunday when it was beaten, 3-1, at struggling Bologna.

Marco Di Vaio scored twice to add to Sergio Volpi's early opener as the hosts romped to a 3-0 halftime lead, reducing Tommaso Rocchi's goal shortly after the break to nothing more than a consolation.

Alongside Lazio is AC Milan, which continued its recovery from a rocky start to the season with 3-0 victory over Sampdoria, though it was not always as straight forward as the final score suggests.

Although missing several players through injury and suspension, Sampdoria put up a good fight until Stefano Lucchini handled Ronaldinho's shot inside the area to earn a second yellow card in the 54th minute.

Atalanta coach Luigi Del Neri could not get the better of his former charges with a 1-1 draw in an even contest at Chievo.

The Verona club, which were led to UEFA Cup qualification in 2002 by Del Neri, took the lead in first-half stoppage time courtesy of Andrea Mantovani's header.

But Gasperini was not to be denied a point on his return to the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi, and Ferreira Pinto levelled just after the hour.

Genoa extended its 100 percent home record with a 1-0 win over Siena, courtesy of Giuseppe Biava's goal in the 20th minute.

A late goal from Cagliari substitute Robert Acquafresca gave his side its first win of the season - 1-0 at Torino - and climb off the bottom of Serie A on Sunday.

In Saturday's other game, Fiorentina beat Reggina 3-0.