Stankovic hits three in Inter's "mad" 5-2 win

Published>Sun, Nov 28 10 10:46 PM

Midfielder Dejan Stankovic set alight a freezing San Siro with his first three goals of the Serie A season in Inter Milan's remarkable 5-2 win over Parma on Sunday, their first league victory in a month.

The champions have struggled this term with injuries and form but after Wednesday's Champions League victory over Twente Enschede, the pressure on coach Rafael Benitez was further eased by a battling if fortunate win which sent his side up to fifth.

"It was a mad game," Benitez told Sky. "We can still aim for the scudetto, the championship still has a long way to run."

Inter now trail leaders AC Milan by seven points after their city rivals drew 1-1 at Sampdoria on Saturday, but second-placed Lazio failed to take advantage with influential Brazilian midfielder Hernanes rifling in to grab a 1-1 draw with Catania.

Lazio, three points behind Milan, host Inter on Friday.

Juventus, who were held 1-1 by Fiorentina on Saturday, stayed third after Napoli went down 3-1 at Udinese where Naples-born Antonio Di Natale refused to celebrate after hitting his second hat-trick of the campaign.

Last term's Serie A top scorer netted a penalty, a superb swerving long range effort and directly from a corner after an error by Marek Hamsik, who went straight up the other end to fire in a consolation before missing his own spotkick.

AS Roma can go above Juve with a win at Palermo at 1945 GMT.

Bari stayed bottom after 14 games following a 1-1 draw with promoted Cesena while Cagliari beat struggling Lecce 3-2.

Bologna, awaiting a possible points deduction for financial irregularities, tried to get their game with Chievo on but heavy snowfall meant the match was postponed just before kickoff.

COLD WEATHER

Snow also hit Brescia but their 0-0 draw with Genoa went ahead after a short stoppage to paint the lines red.

Northern Italy's cold weather, the unpopular new midday kick off and Inter's recent woes contributed to a low San Siro crowd.

Home ultras also came late in protest at the government's imposition of electronic supporter cards to track hooligans and most missed ex-Inter striker Hernan Crespo's opener for Parma when he flicked in at the near post after just four minutes.

Serbia's Stankovic equalised on 18 minutes when his shot from just outside the box took a wicked deflection and moments later he performed exactly the same trick to put Inter ahead.

Four minutes later Esteban Cambiasso stabbed in after Jonathan Biabiany headed on a corner from Wesley Sneijder, who looked almost back to his best before suffering a knock.

Crespo pulled one back on 36 minutes after Marco Materazzi's mistake and Parma could easily have equalised in the second half with Angelo hitting the post before fit-again Thiago Motta and Stankovic settled matters with powerful strikes inside the area.

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