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Crespo's brace pushes Inter Milan atop Serie A

A brace from Argentina star Hernan Crespo helped defending champions Inter Milan beat visiting Chievo Verona 4-3 on Sunday to leapfrog Palermo at the top of the Italian Serie A.

Inter fans were only in part pleased by the feat of their heroes, though, as the team incredibly conceded three goals in 12 minutes after going up 4-0 with 20 minutes left.

A furious start brought Brazilian Adriano and Crespo close to scoring and forced two spectacular saves by Lorenzo Squizzi early in the game.

The Chievo keeper delivered one of the game's best performances but could do nothing when Crespo fired an angled left footer on 10 minutes.

Squizzi managed another great save on a smashing shot from Luis Figo but was beaten again in the second half by a Walter Samuel header and by drives from Dejan Stankovic and Crespo.

The game was far from over as Sergio Pellissier pulled one back for the guests, converting a spot kick on 76 minutes, followed by successful efforts by Simone Tiribocchi and, on 88 minutes, Matteo Brighi.

"There is nothing to complain about," Inter coach Roberto Mancini said.

"I am sorry that the defense conceded three goals, because they lost concentration in the final minutes, and these things should not happen," he said.

Tuscany minnows Empoli did Inter a favour by stunning Palermo 2-0, keeping them on nine points. Also on nine points are Roma, who won 4-0 at Parma and lie one point adrift of Inter after four games.

The former frontrunners from Sicily paid dearly for a spot kick miss by Franco Brienza on 25 minutes and fell behind three minutes later, when Empoli striker Luca Saudati nodded past Federico Agliardi.

Nine minutes after the break, Argentinian Sergio Almiron split the defense to make it 2-0 and confirm the frailty of Palermo's defense, which has conceded nine goals in four games.
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