4 degrees of separation

 

MILAN: Inter Milan snatched a 2-1 win from Palermo to confirm sole possession of first place in the Italian Serie A and leave their opponents six points adrift. In earlier action on Sunday, AS Roma beat Sampdoria 4-2, leapfrogging Palermo yet remaining four points adrift of unbeaten Inter, who lead the standings with 33 points from 13 games.

 

The Renzo Barbera stadium’s 35,000 fans yielded Palermo record gate revenue of $1.08 million, but the Sicilian supporters had to see their heroes concede a fourth defeat to remain rooted on 27 points.

 

Towering Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave Inter a downhill start on five minutes, stunning the dithering Alberto Fontana with a searing, long-range drive set up by fellow striker Adriano. Fontana, a 38-year-old who left Inter in 2005, appeared to be late as he dove to deflect Ibra’s shot but was flawless on 27 minutes, stopping a fast, low drive from Adriano followed by Patrick Vieira’s high drive.

 

Ibra threatened again with a smashing but central free kick well grabbed by Fontana, and Adriano fired narrowly wide in the 31st minute to confirm Inter dominance.

 

Captain Eugenio Corini and the whole Palermo midfield seemed unable to provide valuable feeds for the single striker Amauri, who was ruthless on 45 minutes, deflecting home off the post his single chance on a Marco Pisano cross adjusted by Mark Bresciano. Pisano opened the second half by missing a deflection by a hairsbreadth on 48 minutes, shortly before Ibra left the pitch with a pulled muscle for Hernan Crespo.

 

Palermo coach Francesco Guidolin replaced Amauri with the taller Andrea Caracciolo on 54 minutes, but it was Inter defender Marco Materazzi who came close, hitting the post with a downward header.

 

Only two minutes later, Inter secured the win as Vieira drilled a spectacular drive at the junction of bar and post. Adriano was again crucial as he fed the Frenchman with an inviting assist, confirming to be gradually regaining his best form after a long glum spell.

 

 

As Roma skipper Francesco Totti hit back at his critics with goals in either half which lifted his side to a 4-2 win at Sampdoria. Roma underlined their Serie A credentials with their fifth straight victory on Sunday.

 

The win moves the side from the capital to second in the Serie A ahead of Palermo who drop to third after their home setback.

 

Totti opened the scoring after 13 minutes with midfielder Simone Perrotta claiming the second after 33 minutes and defender Christian Panucci adding a third before the break.

 

Totti’s second goal after 74 minutes was as spectacular as Ronaldinho’s for Barcelona against Villarreal on Saturday, and it gave Roma an unequalled 30 goals scored this season.

 

The Italian league president, Antonio Matarrese, and former Juventus legend Michel Platini had criticised Totti’s decision to temporarily halt his career following the World Cup. -- AFP