Zanetti late show rescues point for Inter
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Article summary
A late Javier Zanetti goal handed FC Internazionale Milano a vital point against AS Roma, keeping the league leaders nine points ahead of the Giallorossi.
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An 89th-minute Javier Zanetti goal rescued a point for FC Internazionale Milano against AS Roma, to maintain the league leader's nine-point advantage over their rivals.
Landmark game
Francesco Totti marked his club record 387th Serie A appearance for Roma by opening the scoring after 38 minutes when he turned in Max Tonetto's cross. Both sides finished the game with ten men following Maxwell's second-half injury after Roberto Mancini had already made his three permitted substitutions and Roma when Phillipe Mexes was dismissed five minutes from time for two bookings.
Viola buoyant
ACF Fiorentina reclaimed fourth place with a 1-0 home defeat of Tuscan rivals AS Livorno Calcio. First-half substitute Papa Waigo scored the only goal at the Artemio Franchi just before the hour mark, leaving the Viola four points behind third-placed Juventus. AC Milan are a further two points back following a 1-1 draw at Calcio Catania. Milan took the lead when Pato scored his fifth goal in eight Serie A appearances eleven minutes into the second half, before Gionatha Spinesi levelled for the hosts eight minutes later.
Home victories
Elsewhere, Atalanta BC and Genoa CFC boosted their hopes of qualifying for next season's UEFA Cup with home victories. Atalanta recovered from Sergio Volpi's third-minute opener for UC Sampdoria to lead 3-1 at the break thanks to a Cristiano Doni double and one from Sergio Floccari. Daniele Capelli completed the scoring eight minutes into the second half. Genoa, meanwhile, overcame SSC Napoli 2-0, Giuseppe Sculli and Marco Boriello on target in either half.
Bianchi goal
Elsewhere US Città di Palermo ended Empoli FC's run of three successive victories with a 2-0 success, while Parma FC won by the same margin against Udinese Calcio to ease their relegation worries. The bottom two were also beaten. Rolando Bianchi scored the only goal for S.S. Lazio to condemn his former side Reggina Calcio to defeat, while AC Siena repeated the same scoreline in their win against Cagliari Calcio.