Inter in luck as Juventus chase falters

FC Internazionale Milano took a big stride towards retaining the Serie A title after a late own goal gave them a 1-0 win at Udinese Calcio and Juventus were held 3-3 by AC Chievo Verona.

Isla own goal
Knowing at kick-off that Juve's five-game league winning streak was over, Inter found life tough against Udinese, with Fabio Quagliarella going close several times for the UEFA Cup contenders, who take on Werder Bremen in the quarter-finals on Thursday. But, with only 13 minutes left, Zlatan Ibrahimović crossed to Inter substitute Patrick Vieira, whose shot hit goalkeeper Emanuele Belardi and then deflected in off luckless Udinese player Mauricio Isla.

Pellissier hat-trick
That increased Inter's lead to nine points with eight games left, courtesy of Sergio Pellissier's hat-trick against Juventus. His first goal came after 25 minutes when he rounded Gianluigi Buffon. Partly at fault for that goal, Giorgio Chiellini levelled for Juventus nine minutes later, yet Chievo were in hungry mood and struck again through Pellissier a minute before the interval. The 29-year-old then assured them a share of the spoils in the final minute of the game, after a Mario Yepes own goal and a Vincenzo Iaquinta effort had seemed to turn the match around. Juve are now only five points ahead of AC Milan, who beat lowly US Lecce 2-0 with two injury-time goals as Philippe Senderos's header was deflected in by Ronaldinho and Andriy Shevchenko's cross was turned in by Filippo Inzaghi.

Gilardino winner
By drawing with Juve, Chievo, in 16th, moved a further point clear of the relegation zone, with Torino FC succumbing 1-0 at US Città di Palermo. Basement side Reggina fell to Thiago Motta's 77th-minute winner for Genoa, who maintained their two-point advantage over fifth-placed ACF Fiorentina, despite Alberto Gilardino's late strike in the Viola's 2-1 success at Atalanta BC. Elsewhere, sixth-placed AS Roma saw off Bologna FC 2-1, AC Siena overcame S.S. Lazio 2-0, SSC Napoli salvaged a 2-2 draw at UC Sampdoria and Cagliari Calcio defeated Calcio Catania 1-0.