Serie A round-up: Inter crush Lecce while Milan draw | inside World Soccer

Serie A round-up: Inter crush Lecce while Milan draw

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Lecce
Lecce logo
0 - 2
Inter Milan logo
Inter Milan

Zlatan Ibrahimović 12

Luís Figo 72

Dejan Stanković 82


Serie A leaders Inter Milan continued their title march with a comprehensive 3-0 victory at lowly Lecce.

José Mourinho's side were never really tested by a team desperate for points amid a relegation battle.

Dejan Stanković should've scored for Inter after eight minutes, but he turned Zlatan Ibrahimović's cross over with a free header from six yards.

And it was Ibrahimović himself who gave Inter the lead four minutes later as the Swede sprung an offside trap, spun round on the edge of the area and fired home his 14th goal of the season.

Lecce had a wonderful opportunity to equalise, but Júlio César produced a stunning save to deny Guglielmo Stendardo's soaring header from a corner.

Maicon incredibly wasted a glorious opportunity to increase the lead but, after being found by Ibrahimović unmarked at the near post, the full-back ballooned over with the entire goal to aim at.

The visitors finally doubled the cushion in the 72nd minute when veteran winger Luís Figo headed home Davide Santon's cross. It proved to be his final contribution, as Figo was replaced by Cristian Chivu.

Stanković completed the scoring with eight minutes remaining as the Serbian midfielder sent a towering header from seven yards that flew across the face of goal into the far top corner.


AC Milan
AC Milan logo
1 - 1
Reggina logo
Reggina
Kaká(pen) 67
Davide Di Gennaro 33


AC Milan's title hopes suffered a blow after Serie A bottom side Reggina held them to a 1-1 draw at San Siro.

Milan enjoyed excellent early possession but fell behind on 33 minutes as Davide Di Gennaro latched onto Bernardo Corradi's flick to lash home a low left-foot drive into the bottom right hand corner.

Di Gennaro is a former Milan youth product before being sold to Genoa and he showed the San Siro what he was capable of.

Ronaldinho went on a classic move where he ran at three defenders, but the finish flashed past the far post.

Carlo Ancelotti threw on Clarence Seedorf to try to breathe some life into his side and the Dutchman thought he had equalised when Kaká's shot came off the inside of the post and into his path, but the goal was disallowed for a handling offence.

Filippo Inzaghi replaced an ineffective Ronaldinho and moments later Alexandre Pato was brought down by Matej Krajčík in the box and Kaká slotted home the spot kick to put Milan on terms.

Inzaghi almost converted a devilish cross from David Beckham but he headed just over the bar.

There was bad news for Ancelotti when Kaká suddenly pulled up and limped off the field. He made way for Luca Antonini, so Seedorf took his tactical position.

Five minutes from the end Inzaghi was inches away from converting another sumptuous cross from Beckham.

Yet Reggina could've won it, as Bernardo Corradi on the counter cut back from the left wing to flash a shot inches across the face of goal five minutes into stoppages.

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