Inter just a win from championship glory
ROME: Inter Milan closed to within one win of the Serie A title when they came from behind to draw 2-2 with Palermo on Sunday.
Trailing to first-half strikes by striker Andrea Caracciolo and defender Cristian Zaccardo, the Italian champions responded with goals by Julio Cruz and Adriano after the break.
Inter lead the division with 81 points from 31 matches, 16 ahead of second-placed AS Roma, and will wrap up the scudetto if they beat Roma in the next round of matches on Wednesday.
Earlier, AC Milan climbed into a Champions League qualifying place for the first time this season after Kaka, Giuseppe Favalli and Ronaldo scored in a 3-1 win over Messina.
Milan, who started the season on minus eight points for their part in last year's match-fixing scandal, are fourth with 50 points, six points behind Lazio, whose eight-match winning streak ended in a 2-2 draw at basement side Ascoli.
Roma, meanwhile, reacted to their humiliating 7-1 midweek defeat by Manchester United in the Champions League quarterfinals with a 4-0 win over Sampdoria.
Roma coach Luciano Spalletti told Sky Sport: "I knew there would be a reaction because I know my players well. I work with them and I know how seriously they prepare."
Palermo arrived at the San Siro stadium on the back of their worst run this season. One win in their previous 10 matches left little hope of a good result against Inter, who had won 12 of their 14 home games this season.
But the Sicilian side committed themselves to attack and went ahead in the third minute when Caracciolo edged in front of Nicolas Burdisso to turn in a low drive by Fabio Simplicio.
Palermo's pressure paid off again on the stroke of halftime, when Zaccardo received an Andrea Barzagli pass on the edge of the box, slipped his marker, and thumped the ball into the roof of the net.
Figo cross
The introduction of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cruz sharpened up the Inter attack and Cruz grabbed their first goal in the 67th minute when he headed in a Luis Figo cross.
Seven minutes later, Inter were level, Figo again providing the cross for Cruz's strike partner, Brazilian Adriano, to nod past goalkeeper Alberto Fontana.
Milan had a much easier game at Messina where they arrived full of confidence after reaching the Champions League semifinals with a 2-0 win at Bayern Munich in midweek.
Kaka put them ahead with a shot from outside the area in the 14th minute and defender Favalli doubled their lead on the half hour when he ran on to Joann Gourcuff's pass to beat goalkeeper Gabriele Paoletti from inside the area.
Ronaldo wrapped up an impressive Milan performance when he unleashed a superb right-foot drive into the top corner of the net five minutes from the end.
Masiello held off Kakha Kaladze to snatch Messina's consolation goal in stoppage-time.
Roma also ran out comfortable winners after Francesco Totti steadied their nerves with a goal in the 21st minute at home to Sampdoria.
The Roma captain's second goal, on the break midway through the second half, cemented his place as the division's leading scorer this season with 20 goals.
Defenders Matteo Ferrari and Christian Panucci also scored as Sampdoria's defence unravelled.
Agencies
(China Daily 04/17/2007 page24)
