Internazionale powers to top of Serie A standings

Nov 9, 2008 - 10:47 PM By PA SportsTicker

Internazionale moved to the top of the Serie A table at the expense of city rivals AC Milan after late goals decided the results of both of their games on Sunday.

Julio Cruz's stoppage-time winner snatched all three points for Inter in a gritty 1-0 win against fifth-placed Udinese.

That result had put Inter top of the table ahead of Milan's late game at Lecce on Sunday and that is where it stayed after Carlo Ancelotti's side conceded a last-gasp equalizer to draw 1-1.

Ronaldinho had put Milan ahead when he guided a cross from substitute Alexandre Pato into the goal with 11 minutes remaining.

But that effort would not prove enough to claim all three points as Andrea Esposito flicked in Andrea Zanchetta's free-kick in stoppage time to send the 30,000 fans in the sold-out Stadio Via del Mare wild with joy.

The result leaves AC Milan a point behind Inter and level with Napoli, which returned to winning ways with a 2-0 triumph at home to struggling Sampdoria.

Daniele Mannini opened the scoring for the Partenopei midway through the first half and substitute Marcelo Zalayeta bagged the second to make the game safe 15 minutes from time.

Three goals in the second half helped fourth-placed Lazio to its third consecutive win as it overcame Siena, 3-0, at the Stadio Olimpico.

The in-form Mauro Zarate opened the scoring 12 minutes after the break, before second-half substitute Tommasi Rocchi added two goals in the final minutes to cement the win.

Alessandro Del Piero celebrated his 34th birthday in style by scoring his 250th goal for Juventus as it secured a fourth consecutive league triumph away to Chievo on Sunday.

Del Piero broke the deadlock after 40 minutes in signature style with a swerving free-kick from just outside the area that whistled past Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino.

It was reward for an opening half Juve dominated and a second was not long coming after the break with Vicenzo Iaquinta tapping in the rebound after Sorrentino had saved his 54th-minute penalty.

The win maintains Juve's excellent recent form that has seen them rise to sixth place, while new Chievo boss Domenico Di Carlo - who replaced Giuseppe Iachini earlier this week - saw his side slip to second from bottom.

Genoa was the biggest winner on Sunday as it thumped bottom club Reggina, 4-0.

Diego Milito scored a hat trick as Reggina succumbed meekly following the dismissal of defender Andrea Costa on the stroke of halftime.

Giuseppe Sculli also scored for the hosts, for whom it was a sixth successive home victory.

Fiorentina notched up its fourth home win of the season as it held off the challenge of Atalanta, 2-1.

The Viola took a two-goal lead into the break thanks to strikes from Felipe Melo and Alberto Gilardino before Sergio Floccari reduced the gap from the penalty spot late on.

Rocco Sabato's late free-kick saw Catania come from behind to nick a 2-1 win at home to Cagliari.

Jedaias Jeda took advantage of poor defending to head Cagliari in front in the sixth minute but Giuseppe Mascara equalized in the 37th minute.

And a good second-half performance paid off as Sabato pounced three minutes from time to ensure Catania got back to winning ways after three consecutive defeats.

On Saturday, Torino hauled themselves out of the relegation zone thanks to a late goal by Jurgen Saumel against the 10 men of Palermo.

Toro looked to be heading for a frustrating draw until a red card for Antonio Nocerino seven minutes from time changed the face of the game, and Saumel was able to produce the winner with 89 minutes played.

New Bologna coach Sinisa Mihajlovic saw his side draw 1-1 with Roma, although it had an own goal by Cicinho in stoppage time to thank for their point.

Francesco Totti celebrated his 400th Serie A appearance with a 69th-minute goal, before Cicinho headed into his own net in the second minute of added time.