Inter Milan wins, but forced to wait for title

Author: 
JEREMY INSON | AP
Publication Date: 
Sun, 2010-05-09 21:31

Francesco Totti kept AS Roma's hopes alive of overtaking Inter by scoring twice to help his team rally for a 2-1 win over Cagliari. That leaves Roma still two points behind Inter ahead of the final round.
Inter travels to play Siena, while Roma is away to Chievo next weekend. If both teams finish with level on points, Roma will take the title because of a better head-to-head record.
Inter seemed headed for a comfortable win when leading 4-1, but Pablo Granoche and Sergio Pellissier scored late for Chievo.
AC Milan remains in the third Champions League place despite a 1-0 loss to Genoa, while Sampdoria drew 1-1 away to Palermo to stay fourth.
At the foot of the table, Atalanta lost 2-0 to Napoli and is relegated along with Siena and Livorno.
Inter started in determined fashion, and Maicon and Dejan Stankovic came close with early shots, but it was Chievo which took the lead when Thiago Motta deflected in Michele Marcolini's free kick.
Another own goal immediately brought Inter level. Samuel Eto'o crossed and Andrea Mantovani could do little to stop the ball deflecting off him and past Chievo keeper Stefano Sorrentino.
Esteban Cambiasso put Inter ahead in the 34th, volleying home a cross by Maicon at the far post. Diego Milito scored the third five minutes later, chipping Sorrentino from the edge of the area.
Mario Balotelli scored Inter's fourth and Jose Mourinho's team appeared well in control and on course for the title, as Roma was level at 0-0 at the time.
Chievo didn't give up, though, and goals from Granoche and Pellissier meant that Inter finished the match in a nervous, rather than celebratory, mood.
Meanwhile, Roma looked headed for a draw at most after wasting a number of chances, with Luca Toni, Marco Motta and John Arne Riise all hitting the frame of the goal.
Simone Perrotta had a header ruled out for offside, Totti missed an open goal and Cagliari goalkeeper Cristiano Lupatelli made desperate saves from Jeremy Menez and Rodrigo Taddei.
Andrea Lazzari then appeared to have ended Roma's championship hopes when he fired in a low free kick in the 73rd, but Totti linked up with Daniele De Rossi to equalize in the 79th.
He added his second from the penalty spot in the 83rd after Davide Biondini handled Riise's cross.
In Palermo, both sides struggled in the first half and only two headers from Edinson Cavani came close to opening the scoring.
Giampaolo Pazzini gave Sampdoria the lead in the 54th, striking home a penalty after Salvatore Sirigu brought down Daniele Mannini.
Palermo came back and after Luciano Mauri bundled over Fabrizio Miccoli, the Palermo captain got up and brought his side level.
Also Sunday, it was; Bologna 1, Catania 1; Fiorentina 1, Siena 1; Juventus 2, Parma 3; Livorno 1, Lazio 2; Udinese 3, Bari 3.

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