Udinese on top after thrilling finale
Saturday, December 3, 2011
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Udinese Calcio won 1-0 at FC Internazionale Milano after a last five minutes in which both teams missed a penalty and had a player sent off, while SSC Napoli eased to victory against US Lecce.
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Udinese Calcio moved level at the Serie A summit following an extraordinary 1-0 win at FC Internazionale Milano on an evening when SSC Napoli eased to a 4-2 win against bottom side US Lecce.
AC Milan's 2-0 Friday win at Genoa CFC had taken them top, a point ahead of Juventus, who play struggling AC Cesena on Sunday. Udinese, needing a victory to wipe out Milan's lead, scored when Kwadwo Asamoah and Antonio Floro Flores combined to set up Mauricio Isla in a 73rd-minute counterattack.
The real drama was left for the last five minutes. Javier Zanetti was received his first Serie A dismissal for a foul on Antonio Di Natale, whose penalty on his 300th match in the Italian top flight was saved by Júlio César. At the other end Damiano Ferronetti brought down Diego Milito in the box, but Giampaolo Pazzini slipped and ballooned his spot kick over. The Zebrette lost Ferronetti to a second yellow card but held on and Inter remain in the bottom half.
Napoli lie fifth following a victory effectively sealed before half-time by Ezequiel Lavezzi, Edinson Cavani and Blerim Dzemaili. Although Luis Muriel pulled one back after the break, Cavani scored again before Daniele Corvia's consolation and Napoli can travel to Villarreal CF on Wednesday in high spirits.
