Inter Milan moves into first place

(AP)
Updated: 2006-10-16 08:48

MILAN, Italy _ Dejan Stankovic scored two goals Sunday to help Inter Milan beat Catania 2-1 and move into first place in the Serie A.


Inter Milan's Ivan Ramiro Cordoba, top, of Colombia celebrates with his teammates after Dejan Stankovic of Serbia scored against Catania during an Italian major league soccer match at the San Siro stadium in Milan , Italy, Sunday, Oct.15 ,2006. Inter won 2 - 1 to take the lead of the Italian first division.[AP]

Stankovic headed in Luis Figo's cross in the 29th minute, and then added another in the 75th with a powerful drive from the edge of the area.

Also, Reggina beat AS Roma 1-0 and Atalanta topped Palermo 3-2.

Inter leads the league with 14 points. Roma and Palermo have 12 points each, with Roma ahead on goal difference.

Luca Toni scored his fourth goal of the season to help Fiorentina beat Empoli 2-1 and win an away game for the first time this season. The Italy striker scored in the 77th minute.

Fiorentina, docked 19 points for its role in Italy's match-fixing scandal, improved to minus-10 but remains in last place.

In the late match, Cagliari goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti saved a penalty kick in the ninth minute to hold Lazio to a 0-0 draw.

Also, Udinese won 3-0 at Parma; Torino edged visiting Chievo Verona 1-0; and Livorno beat Ascoli 2-0.

At the San Siro, Catania forward Giuseppe Mascara opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a 30-meter shot.

Julio Ricardo Cruz, who replaced striker Adriano in the 60th, failed to convert a penalty kick seven minutes later.

"I thought we began quite well, but then we conceded a freak goal," Inter coach Roberto Mancini said. "Catania then upped their game, which made it more difficult for us. But I thought we deserved the win, particularly after the missed penalty."

Under heavy rain in Reggio Calabria, Nicola Amoruso's 49th-minute goal downed Roma. Midfielder Daniele De Rossi missed Roma's best chance in the 66th, blasting over from close range.

"We created enough chances, but we didn't score," Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said. "It's a long season and this is bound to happen."
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