Milan beats Inter on the derby

Soccerway - 5 May 2008 08:08

FC Internazionale Milano's lead at the top of Serie A was halved to three points with two matches remaining following a 2-1 derby defeat against AC Milan and second-placed AS Roma's 3-0 success at UC Sampdoria. Ahead of the Derby della Madonnina, Inter knew that three points would give them the title regardless of Roma's result, due to the Nerazzurri's superior head-to-head record against Luciano Spalletti's side. However, they were second best against their city rivals for long periods as the Rossoneri moved into the final UEFA Champions League qualification place at the expense of ACF Fiorentina, who lost 2-1 at Cagliari Calcio.  Two goals inside five minutes just after the break from Filippo Inzaghi (51) and Kaká (56) gave Milan the lead their superiority merited. Inter finally awoke from their slumber to press the Milan goal and reduced the arrears when Julio Cruz curled in a free-kick (76), but despite late pressure, Milan held firm. It looked like Roma would trim the Inter's lead by just a point until three goals in the final 15 minutes from Christian Panucci, David Pizarro and Cicinho downed Sampdoria. Defeat meant the Genoa side slipped to seventh behind Udinese Calcio, who won 1-0 at second-from-bottom Empoli FC. Also in the relegation zone, AS Livorno Calcio conceded an 88th-minute goal to lose 3-2 at Atalanta BC, while Parma FC moved to within one point and one place of fourth-from-bottom Calcio Catania with a 1-0 home defeat of Genoa CFC. The big climbers of the day were Reggina Calcio, whose 2-1 win at Catania lifted the southern side out of the bottom three. Elsewhere, Torino FC edged further clear of trouble with a 2-1 home success against SSC Napoli, S.S. Lazio succumbed to a 2-1 home defeat against US Città di Palermo, while Juventus lost 1-0 at AC Siena.