Unbeaten Inter go fourth
Sunday, December 19, 2004
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FC Internazionale Milano maintained their undefeated start to the season with victory over Brescia Calcio.
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By Paolo Corradini
Undefeated FC Internazionale Milano moved up to fourth in Serie A on Sunday with a 1-0 home win against Brescia Calcio thanks to Sinisa Mihajlovic's first-half free-kick. But Roberto Mancini's side still sit seven points behind third-placed Udinese Calcio, who defeated ten-man S.S. Lazio 3-0 at the Friuli stadium.
Early dimissal
The Rome club had centre-half Sebastiano Siviglia sent off for a seventh-minute foul on Vincenzo Iaquinta and the dismissal paved the way for Udinese to record their ninth victory of the season. First-half goals from David Pizarro, Davide Di Michele and Iaquinta did the damage to leave Lazio just four points above the relegation zone.
Diamoutene off
UC Sampdoria climbed up to fifth place after defeating US Lecce 4-1 away from home. Two goals from Francesco Flachi and further strikes by Max Tonetto and Valeri Kutuzov gave the visitors victory after Lecce defender Souleymane Diamoutene had been shown a red card for a foul on Sampdoria striker Fausto Rossini with the game goalless.
Totti landmark
AS Roma moved sixth with an emphatic 5-1 home victory against Parma FC. Francesco Totti scored twice to become the club's all-time leading scorer while Antonio Cassano followed suit with two more and Vincenzo Montella also found the net. Parma, who had midfield player Andrea Pisanu dismissed after a second booking, scored a consolation through defender Cesare Bovo.
Red mist
Christian Riganò and Javier Portillo were on target as ACF Fiorentina defeated AC Chievo Verona. Both sides finished the game with ten men after Fiorentina's versatile midfield player Christian Maggio and Chievo defender Salvatore Lanna were both sent off during the second half.
Bellucci boost
Elsewhere, Claudio Bellucci and Mourad Meghni were on target as Bologna FC earned a vital win against Reggina Calcio to move away from the botton three. Alessandro Lucarelli scored in AS Livorno Calcio's 1-1 draw with AC Siena, who had gone ahead through Simone Vergassola.
Late game
In the day's late game, first-half goals from Lamberto Zauli, Franco Brienza and Luca Toni gave US Città di Palermo a deserved 3-0 win against Cagliari Calcio. The Sicilian club, who moved level on points with fourth-placed Inter, dominated possession throughout.
