Milan sunk at Lazio, Inter draw 4-4
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E-mail Xinhua, February 2, 2012
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan reacts as Lazio players celebrate scoring during a Serie A match between AC Milan and Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico on February 2, 2012. |
AC Milan missed the chance to overtake Juventus in the Italian Serie A after they lost to Lazio 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday.
Lazio went ahead in the 76th minute through Hernanes, and Tommaso Rocchi capped off a wonderful evening for the hosts with five minutes remaining.
The defending champions controlled possession throughout but could not find a way past Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti as they dropped valuable points in Rome in their battle for the Scudetto.
AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri chose to take a philosophical view of the loss.
"We played a terrible game against a team that did not allow us much, but this is not giving the all-clear to Juventus," he said.
"The campaign is still long and there will be time to discuss these things. I believe the defeat can do us good and help us to grow. Lately, despite winning, we haven't had the same grit that we need to win the Scudetto. This is why I believe the defeat can be healthy," he said.
The result, Milan's fourth defeat of the season, has left them one point behind Serie A leaders Juventus, who have a game in hand after their scheduled match at Parma was postponed yesterday due to the snow that has hit Serie A this week.
Lazio, meanwhile, remain fourth, four points adrift of Milan.
Inter Milan and Palermo drew 4-4 in snowy conditions at the San Siro with both Diego Milito and Fabrizio Miccoli scoring hat-tricks in an action-packed game.
Andrea Mantovani put Palermo in front in the 16th minute, but Diego Milito scored the first of his four goals six minutes later. Miccoli got his name on the score sheet for the first time to put Palermo in front again in the 52nd minute before two more goals from Milito turned the game around into Inter's favor.
Miccoli brought Palermo level again in the 66th minute, but Milito struck again two minutes later to put Inter in front. However, the last word was reserved for Miccoli, who earned Palermo a point five minutes from time.
Udinese narrowed the gap on Juventus at the top of Serie A with a 2-1 victory over Lecce at the Stadio Friuli.
Napoli's poor league form continued as they were held to a goalless draw at home by Cesena.
Walter Mazzarri's side were denied victory by a controversial decision by referee Luca Banti to rule out a goal from Goran Pandev in stoppage time.
