Rate it!

4 votes

A Maicon double saw Internazionale extend their lead at the top of Serie A with a 2-1 victory at Siena.

The Brazilian full-back swooped in each half to open up a commanding nine point advantage over second-placed Juventus, who face Atalanta in Bergamo on Sunday.

But it was Siena who started the brighter of the two sides at the Stadio Artemio Franchi and just moments after kick-off, Morocco international Houssine Kharja forced Julio Cesar into a smart save with a well-struck effort from distance.

Mario Frick then hit the side netting after the Brazilian keeper had flapped at a high ball into the Inter penalty area.

But it was Jose Mourinho's side who opened the scoring on 34 minutes when Maicon was allowed to lose his marker all too easily and turn a corner over the line.

The champions' lead lasted just 10 minutes, as Kharja stooped low to meet Cristiano Del Grosso's angled cross with a header that Julio Cesar could nothing about.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic then went close to restoring Inter's lead on 59 minutes with a sizzling drive from 30 yards; only a reverberating cross bar denied the Swede an 11th goal of the season.

With the backing of a vociferous home crowd however, it was Siena who looked more likely to score again; substitute Massimo Maccarone nearly did with 13 minutes remaining but his close range poke flew over the bar.

But Inter - in the true style of champions - soaked up the pressure and hit the winner on the break, Maicon finishing beautifully after having been put through by Javier Zanetti's clever back heel with just seven minutes left.

Siena did their best to salvage something from the game in the closing moments, but neither Abdelkader Ghezzal nor Maccarone, who both went close, could muster a late leveller.

Earlier in the day, Tommaso Rocchi came off the bench in the second half to fire Lazio to a 1-0 victory over Palermo, their first Serie A win in six weeks.

The forward touched in a Mourad Meghni cross from the left in the 66th minute to lift the Rome side to sixth in the standings.

The visitors, who almost equalised shortly after when Mark Bresciano blasted a good chance wide, had defender Federico Balzaretti sent off for a second yellow card in the second half.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport / Reuters