Vučinić leads Roma to derby spoils

Mirko Vučinić was AS Roma's hero as he struck twice in the second half to help the Giallorossi win 2-1 at rivals S.S. Lazio and reclaim top spot in Serie A while AC Milan dropped further off the pace.

Leaders FC Internazionale Milano's two-point buffer appeared set to stay intact when Tommaso Rocchi burst through to give the Biancocelesti a 14th-minute lead. Roma coach Claudio Ranieri caused a stir at the interval by removing Rome-born talismen Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi but his gamble eventually proved decisive.

It could have been different had Júlio Sérgio not saved Sergio Floccari's penalty just after half-time. Instead, Ştefan Radu felled substitute Rodrigo Taddei with Vučinić (53) levelling from the spot kick. Ten minutes later the turnaround was complete when the Montenegro striker rifled in a 20-metre free-kick. Lazio, who remain three points above the drop zone, then had Cristian Ledesma dismissed in added time.

Milan are now seven points off the summit after their ten men suffered a last-gasp 2-1 defeat at UC Sampdoria – the Blucerchiati moving into the final UEFA Champions League spot as a result of their success. Marco Borriello's header (20) gave the Rossoneri the advantage but eight minutes after the break Daniele Bonera was dismissed for a foul in the area on Antonio Cassano, the Sampdoria striker converting the penalty.

The winner came two minutes into added time when substitute Daniele Mannini's cross was headed in from close range by Giampaolo Pazzini. That goal enabled the hosts to leapfrog US Città di Palermo, who also began the day on 54 points, into fourth though the Rosanero staged an improbable comeback to draw 2-2 at Cagliari Calcio thanks to Fabrizio Miccoli (88) and Abel Hernández in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

SSC Napoli are three points further adrift in sixth after Ezequiel Lavezzi's double downed AS Bari 2-1. Fourth-bottom Bologna FC were denied a vital victory at Udinese Calcio by Antonio Di Natale (90) and Atalanta BC closed to within two points of safety by overcoming ACF Fiorentina 2-1. Elsewhere, Genoa CFC won 3-2 at Parma FC while Calcio Catania and AC Siena drew 2-2.