Thaindian News

Rome, Oct 19 (DPA) Sampdoria drew 1-1 at Lazio Sunday to drop two points adrift of leaders Inter Milan in the eighth round of play of the Italian Serie A football.
Champions Inter have 19 points after crushing Genoa 5-0 Saturday and hold a four-point lead on joint-third Juventus and Fiorentina, who drew 1-1 in Turin.

In Rome, Lazio’s Brazilian Matuzalem fired wide on 10 minutes as the hosts pressed hard early in the game, while Samp’s talent Antonio Cassano on 17 minutes forced a good save from Fernando Muslera.

The young Uruguayan goalkeeper also denied Daniele Mannini, but could do nothing to stop Giampaolo Pazzini’s downward header five minutes before the break.

However, it took Lazio only two minutes to equalize through a break from Matuzalem, who had the better of two defenders on the left flank before beating Luca Castellazzi with a diagonal shot.

Genoa were reduced to 10 men on 56 when Marco Padalino picked up a second yellow card, while Lazio’s Roberto Baronio suffered the same fate on 73.

Good chances went begging when Cassano hit the bar, while Mauro Zarate often created problems to the Samp defence.

Pazzini left the pitch with a bleeding nose in the final minutes after Muslera punched the striker in the face as he failed to clear a high cross.

Napoli came from behind to clinch a 2-1 win over Bologna in the first game they played under new coach Walter Mazzarri.

Brazil veteran Adailton curled home a free-kick for Bologna’s lead, but a flick from Fabio Quagliarella on 74 minutes and Christian Maggio’s late deflection gave Napoli a win that placed them next to Lazio on 10 points.

Promoted Parma won 1-0 at home over 10-man Siena to move just one point behind Juve and Fiorentina.

Palermo won 2-1 at promoted bottom side Livorno, newcomers Bari stunned Chievo 2-1, Catania beat Cagliari 2-1, and struggling Atalanta won 3-1 away to Udinese.

Late Sunday, giants AC Milan came from behind to beat Roma 2-1 with goals from Brazilians Pato and Ronaldinho.

The Milanese Devils had Massimo Ambrosini dismissed after reversing the score and leapfrogged Roma to move to joint-seventh with Palermo on 12 points.