Rate it!

0 votes

Internazionale secured their seventh consecutive Serie A victory when two late goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic earned them a 4-2 win over Chievo.

With Juventus playing later on Sunday, Inter's victory saw them open a nine-point margin at the top of the Serie A table.

Elsewhere, Fiorentina and Napoli registered comfortable victories while Roma edged past Cagliari.

Udinese looked to be cruising against Lazio when leading 3-0 after 55 minutes, but three goals in the last half hour from the Romans earned them a hard-won point.

Internazionale 4 - 2 Chievo

Jose Mourinho's team were staring down the barrel of a humiliating result in the San Siro as they struggled past Chievo, who currently sit at the foot of Serie A.

But two late goals from Swedish striker Ibrahimovic gave the division leaders their seventh consecutive league victory as the hopes of the basement club were cruelly dashed.

From the start it looked as if Inter would cruise to a comfortable victory, and a third-minute goal from left-back Maxwell gave them an early lead. The Brazilian made a perfectly-timed run onto a ball from Stankovic, cut back from the line with defenders closing in and buried the ball in the roof of the net.

Inter continued to dictate play throughout the first period despite Chievo's occasional spirited counter-attacks, and Maxwell nearly had another when his diving header was acrobatically saved by Stefano Sorrentino in the Chievo goal.

Despite their control, Inter had to wait until the second minute of the second half to increase their lead.

It was worth the wait. Victor Obinna made a terrific run up the right flank, and his chipped cross was deftly back-heeled by Ibrahimovic into the path of the charging Stankovic, whose bullet-train run finished with as clean a left-foot rocket as you could hope to see.

With the game seemingly in the bag the hosts sat back a little and paid for their cavalier approach four minutes later.

Sergio Pellisier, Chievo's best player, latched onto a weak clearance that followed a fumble by Julio Cesar in the Inter goal, and unleashed a 30-yard strike that only ever had eyes for the bottom right corner.

Sensing a memorable upset, Chievo began to throw everything at the reigning champions. Chance after chance followed, and on 65 minutes they had their reward when Michele Marcolini and Nicolas Frey combined down the left to put in a perfect cross to Simone Bentivoglio.

The midfielder very nearly fell over the ball, but did just enough to bundle it over the line from four yards out.

A furious Mourinho clearly realised that a draw against such humble opposition would be just as humiliating as a loss, and immediately threw on fresh legs to boost his side's attack.

Chievo were bombarded from there on, but when Mario Balotelli tripped over the ball three minutes later - while unmarked and five yards out - it looked as if the underdogs might have their day.

But superstriker Ibrahimovic came through for Inter, nodding home a free header on 78 minutes from a looping cross, although a push on Chievo defender Frey moments earlier was missed by the referee.

The visitors realised that the fairytale was not to be, and their frustration showed in desperate tackles, including one from Santiago Morero that earned him an early bath for his second yellow.

Inter finished in style. With two minutes left, Ibrahimovic got on the end of a cross from Zanetti and rifled home a stunning right-foot volley.

The strike earned the Swede man-of-the-match honours, put the result beyond doubt and ensured breathing space for Mourinho's side at the top of Serie A.

Roma 3 - 2 Cagliari

Mirko Vucinic's scrambled goal in the last minute sealed victory for mid-table Roma after a breathtaking game.

Simone Perrotta's overhead kick had brought the hosts level after an unstoppable Daniele Conti free kick and Jeda's superb first-time finish had given the Sardinians a surprise second-half lead.

Francesco Totti was again in fine fettle and a swerving left foot shot six minutes before the break had put Roma 1-0 up.

Fiorentina 2 - 0 Catania

Adrian Mutu smashed in at the near post on 56 minutes and strike partner Alberto Gilardino made sure of victory seven minutes from time after the hosts had been frustrated in the first half.

Giacomo Tedesco had a good effort for Catania well-saved by Sebastien Frey but the home side, three points clear in fifth, deserved their victory.

Genoa 1 - 1 Atalanta

Giuseppe Sculli struck three minutes from the end to snatch a point for the hosts in a bad-tempered game.

Away striker Sergio Floccari wriggled his way through the Genoa defence to calmly rifle home on 17 minutes while the home side had two goals ruled out in the second period before Sculli scored.

Atalanta's Gianpaolo Bellini was sent off for two bookings before Genoa's Omar Milanetto was given a straight red for kicking out after being tackled.

The visitors were reduced to nine when Claudio Rivalta was dismissed on 71 minutes.

Palermo 2 - 0 Siena

Mattia Cassani's cross sailed into the far corner to give Palermo a flukey lead on the half hour and Simplicio sealed victory in the battle of the mid-table sides when he turned the ball into an open goal.

Reggina 0 - 2 Sampdoria

A second-half resurgence gave Samp the points and kept the hosts in the drop zone.

Claudio Bellucci blasted in a penalty after strike partner Antonio Casano was felled and Marco Padalino added the gloss nine minutes from time.

Udinese 3 - 3 Lazio

Inconsistent Lazio produced a stunning comeback to draw in Udine having looked down and out at 3-0.

Udinese striker Antonio Di Natale clipped in the opener after Fabio Quagliarella's disguised pass and the Italy pair combined again on 15 minutes when Quagliarella tapped in after a quick break.

Di Natale netted a second on 55 minutes after Juan Pablo Carrizo had saved his first effort before Mauro Zarate's strike, a Mobido Diakite header and Cristian Ledesma's screamer five minutes from time left early season pacsetters Udinese stunned.

Toby Keel / Eurosport