Italy: Inzaghi strike defeats Parma

Filippo Inzaghi grabbed the only goal of the game as Milan AC earned a valuable three points with a 1-0 win against Parma AC in Serie A on Sunday.

Deadly predator
Inzaghi proved himself to be a deadly predator inside the area as he slotted home a fine header from a Serginho free-kick in the 30th minute to help Milan to record their fifth win of the season. Milan were then forced to defend their lead with ten men after they had Turkish midfielder Ümit Davala sent off in the 66th minute for a challenge on Fabio Cannavaro.

Second defeat
With the victory, Milan move up to third in the table on 19 points and Parma lose for the second time under new coach Daniel Passarella and slip to fifth from bottom on eleven points.

Ronaldo returns
Twice World Player of the Year Ronaldo made an 18-minute appearance as a substitute as Internazionale FC returned to second place with a 2-0 win over AC Fiorentina on. The Brazilian was making his first appearance since his ill-fated comeback against US Lecce on November 4 when he limped off with a thigh strain after just 14 minutes.

Vieri on target
Inter were already two goals ahead when Ronaldo replaced Christian Vieri in the 72nd minute. Mohammed Kallon put Inter ahead a minute before the break, scrambling the ball home after a mis-hit shot from Vieri had bounced out off Fiorentina keeper Alex Manninger. Vieri doubled Inter's lead in the 54th minute from the penalty spot after Emre Belözoglu had been brought down by Fiorentina's Brazilian midfielder Amaral.

Chievo stay top
A first-half penalty from Eugenio Corini and a second-half goal from Lorenzo D'Anna ensured that league leaders AC Chievo Verona grabbed their seventh win of the season against AC Perugia. Chievo took the lead with Corini's penalty in the 27th minute after Argentinian Claudio Paris brought down Federico Cossato inside the area and was sent off. Perugia were reduced to nine men seven minutes before the break when Salvatore Monaco was given a second yellow card. Chievo remain top of the table, moving up to 23 points, while Perugia drop to fourth from bottom on 10 points.

Roma too hot for Bologna
AS Roma's Argentinian defender Walter Samuel was on target as his side completed a convincing 3-1 away win over Bologna FC. Samuel headed home Christian Panucci's cross after just three minutes, before Gabriel Batistuta doubled the advantage in the 16th minute. Bologna pulled a goal back in the 38th minute as Pierre Wome scored directly from a corner but Roma restored their two-goal lead five minutes before the break with a thundering 30-metre strike from Brazilian Marcos dos Santos Assunçao.

Five-star Torino
Hellas-Verona FC suffered a 5-1 defeat against Torino Calcio, despite leading at the break through Romanian striker Adrian Mutu's goal. Natale Gonnella was sent off in the 42nd minute and the visitors were unable to cope in the second half as Torino scored three goals in six minutes. Marco Ferrante scored twice, while Cristiano Lucarelli, Simone Vergassola and Fabio Galante each added a goal during Torino's second-half blitz.

Hodgson under pressure
In Sunday's other games, Udinese Calcio coach Roy Hodgson remains under pressure after his side fell to a 2-0 defeat at Brescia Calcio. Federico Giunti and Antonio Filippini were on target for Carlo Mazzone's side. Bottom club AC Venezia looked set for their first win of the season after Arturo Di Napoli gave them a 59th-minute lead against US Lecce with a clever back-heel. But Lecce's 18-year-old Ivory Coast striker Axel Konan, making his Serie A debut, grabbed an equaliser in the 72nd minute.

Hubner on target
Dario Hubner scored his league-leading ninth goal of the season from the penalty spot after seven minutes of play, giving Piacenza FC the lead but striker Cristiano Doni scored two second-half goals as Atalanta BC came from behind to grab a 2-1 victory.