Italy round-up: Inter shocked by Roma revival

Internazionale FC's chances of reclaiming the Serie A title receded further as they were held to a 3-3 draw at home by AS Roma in Sunday's late game.

Frenetic finish
Inter looked set to earn the victory which would have moved them within three points of leaders Juventus FC as they led 3-1 with less than ten minutes remaining. However, Luigi Di Biagio's 82nd-minute own goal gave Roma hope, before substitute Vincenzo Montella equalised a minute later. In a frantic finale, both sides had chances to win the game, as Montella and Inter's Gabriel Batistuta both watched their shots hit the post.

Contrasting halves
In a tight first half, neither side was able to create any significant goalscoring opportunities, but seconds after the match resumed Antonio Cassano gave the away side the lead. However, Inter equalised within six minutes with a Christian Vieri goal, before Alvaro Recoba gave them the advantage with a fine individual effort and Emre Belözoglu seemed to have sealed the points as he made it 3-1 with 13 minutes remaining.

Bright opening
Earlier in the day, S.S. Lazio began brightly at home to struggling Como Calcio, and took the lead after six minutes as Stefano Fiore finished neatly after Giuseppe Favalli had broken down the left wing. It was 2-0 ten minutes later, when Bernardo Corradi headed Sinisa Mihajlovic's cross into the net, and a second-half penalty from Claudio López after César had been brought down by Como’s Pasquale Padalino completed the win.

Scoring start
AC Chievo Verona faced a potentially tricky game at home to Udinese Calcio but also took an early lead as a powerful header from striker Sasa Bjelanovic gave the home side a tenth-minute advantage. A second header, from Federico Cossato, gave the home side a two-goal cushion, before substitute Sergio Pellissier converted Eugenio Corini corner after 68 minutes to seal the three points.

Vital victory
At the other end of the table, Reggina Calcio moved out of the relegation zone after a 54th-minute penalty from Japanese playmaker Shansuke Nakamura earned a 1-0 home win against fellow strugglers Empoli FC.

Atalanta overcome
Reggina moved above both Empoli and Atalanta BC, who slipped into the bottom four after a 3-0 defeat at Brescia Calcio. Stephan Appiah opened the scoring a minute before the half-hour, before Atalanta had midfield player Damiano Zenoni dismissed. Roberto Baggio added a second before half-time with a fine chip and Fabio Petruzzi's goal three minutes from time rounded off a comfortable win.

Late equaliser
Piacenza FC secured a 3-3 draw at home to Modena FC with an equaliser from Enzo Maresca. Piacenza had taken the lead after eight minutes through Eusebio Di Francesco, but two Omar Milanetto penalties in three minutes midway through the first half turned the match on its head. Di Francesco's scored his second to level once more, but Modena seemed to have taken all three points as Fabio Vignaroli made it 3-2 with seven minutes remaining, while the game between AC Perugia and Bologna FC ended 1-1.