The Hindu : Sport : Fortune favours Inter

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Tuesday, Apr 07, 2009
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Fortune favours Inter

MILAN: Inter Milan moved within touching distance of retaining its Serie A title after a fluke own goal from Udinese’s Mauricio Isla sealed a 1-0 win on Sunday.

With eight games remaining, Inter has increased its lead to nine points after second-placed Juventus had earlier allowed Chievo striker Sergio Pellissier to score a hat-trick in a 3-3 draw in Turin.

Hosts Udinese had dominated Inter until Patrick Vieira charged into the box in a rare foray forward on 77 minutes and the ball rebounded off Isla’s leg into the net.

Udinese’s Fabio Quagliarella had two penalty shouts turned down and a shot expertly tipped over by Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar, who later went off injured.

AC Milan, in a distant third, beat relegation-threatened Lecce 2-0 thanks to two injury-time goals.

Philippe Senderos and Ronaldinho claimed the first after getting their heads to a free-kick and Filippo Inzaghi soon netted a second.

Villa’s twin-strike

Meanwhile in the Spanish Primera Liga, David Villa scored twice from the penalty spot to help Valencia to a 4-1 victory at home to Getafe, putting it back in the hunt for a place in next season’s Champions League.

Barcelona is on top with 72 points, six ahead of Real Madrid .

At the Mestalla, David Silva set up Juan Mata for Valencia’s opener with a superb pass in the 20th minute, and soon after tumbled for Villa to score from the penalty spot.

Francisco Casquero pulled one back for the visitor with another dubious penalty just after the break, but defender Raul Albiol blasted in a long-range third for Valencia.

Villa was brought down for another penalty, after which visiting goalkeeper Jacobo Sanz was sent off, and the Spain international netted his 21st goal of the campaign.

The results: Italian Serie A: Udinese 0 lost to Inter Milan 1 (Isla 77-og), AC Milan 2 (Ronaldinho 90+1, Inzaghi 90+3) bt Lecce 0.

Primera Liga: Atletico Madrid 2 (Forlan 15, Pablo 74) lost to Osasuna 4 (Pandiani 8, 48, Vadocz 44, Shojaei 69), Espanyol 3 (Ivan Alonso 13, de la Pena 39, Lopo 90+1-og) bt Deportivo La Coruna 1 (Lassad 42), Valencia 4 (Mata 20, Villa 25-pen, 60-pen, Albiol 56) bt Getafe 1 (Casquero 49-pen), Sporting Gijon 0 lost to Racing Santander 2 (Zigic 54, Colsa 89). — Agencies

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