Milan boosted their hopes of Champions League qualification while denting local rival Internazionale's title defence by beating them 2-1 in a thrilling match at the San Siro.

Filippo Inzaghi and Kaka's goals were enough to secure a valuable three points for Milan, while Julio Cruz's free-kick gave the Serie A leaders hope late on.

The result means that Milan move up into fourth place by virtue of Fiorentina's 2-1 loss at Cagliari, while Inter's lead at the top is cut to three points with two matches remaining after Roma beat Sampdoria 3-0.

Kaka also created the opening goal six minutes after half-time when he beat Marco Materazzi on the wing to send in a cross that Inzaghi powered home with a header at the near post.

The reigning world player of the year then doubled Milan's lead five minutes later after Massimo Ambrosini dispossessed a dithering Maicon and released the Brazilian to calmly slot past goalkeeper Julio Cesar.

Julio Cruz set up a tense finish in this memorable encounter with an inch-perfect free-kick struck low and curled around the wall with 15 minutes remaining that flew past Milan keeper Zeljko Kalac, who was rooted to the spot.

Roma put the pressure on the defending champions by beating Sampdoria 3-0 in Genoa.

Christian Panucci, David Pizarro and Cicinho all scored in the last 15 minutes to move three points behind Inter with just two games to go, although the leaders have a goal difference which is seven better than the capital side.

Juventus remain third despite losing 1-0 at Siena, after Houssine Kharja scored the only goal in the seventh minute.

After being knocked out of the UEFA Cup semi-final on penalties in midweek, Fiorentina's misery was compounded as they lost 2-1 at Cagliari.

La Viola relinquished the fourth position they had held onto for so much of the season due to goals from Jeda and Daniele Conti. Mario Santana pulled one back for the Florence side, but they have now handed the initiative back to Milan in the fight for fourth place.

Udinese closed the gap on Fiorentina to just three points after winning 1-0 at lowly Empoli.

Fabio Quagliarella scored the only goal of the match before Sebastian Giovinco missed a second-half penalty for the home side. The defeat sees Empoli drop into 19th place.

Elsewhere in the relegation zone, Livorno were unlucky to lose 3-2 in Bergamo as Atalanta scored a winner in the 89th minute.

Fausto Rossini and Simone Pavan scored the goals for lowly Livorno, but strikes from Cristiano Doni, Ferreira Pinto and Simone Padoin's late effort robbed Serie A's bottom club of any points.

Parma moved above Empoli after beating Genoa 1-0 at home, but remain in the relegation zone.

Cristiano Lucarelli's second-half strike puts Parma just a point from safety.

There was a swap in places between the two sides just above the relegation zone, as Catania lost 2-1 at home to Reggina .

Nicola Amoruso scored twice, once from open play and again with a 90th-minute penalty, before Catania's Jorge Martinez scored a consolation in second-half injury time.

Torino remain three points clear of the bottom three after beating Napoli 2-1 at home.

An Alessandro Rosina penalty and a goal from David di Michele won it for the Turin team either side of a Matteo Contini strike.

In the mid-table dead rubber, Palermo won 2-1 at Lazio.

The hosts took the lead through a Goran Pandev penalty, before Amauri scored twice in the last 10 minutes to win the match, but only after missing a penalty of his own.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport