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LEGA CALCIO: Referee's error saves Inter from loss against Parma

Inter Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, right, jumps for the ball with Parma goalkeeper Luca Bucci during their Italian Serie A match at the San Siro in Milan, Italy, on Sunday. PHOTO: AP

Ten-man Parma came within minutes of inflicting a first league defeat on champions Inter Milan this season, but were robbed by a refereeing error at the San Siro on Sunday, losing 3-2.

Parma had put in a spirited performance and with the clock ticking down, they held a slender 2-1 advantage.

But a dreadful penalty decision gave Inter the chance to equalize and then top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic snatched the three points deep into injury time to leave Parma broken hearted and the rest of Serie A despondent.

Inter coach Roberto Mancini admitted his side had been lucky.

"We didn't play particularly well, Parma fully deserved a draw," he said.

Esteban Cambiasso had escaped in the box to fire Inter in front on the half hour but a clinical finish from Luca Cigarini 10 minutes later restored parity and 21 minutes from time Andrea Gasbarroni fired Parma in front.

Inter turned on the pressure and in the dying minutes were awarded a highly controversial penalty for an apparent goal-saving handball by veteran Portuguese defender Fernando Couto.

Swede Ibrahimovic stepped up to blast home the spot kick on 88 minutes but television replays showed it should never have been awarded.

Despite having an outstretched arm, Couto got his head to the ball to divert an Ibrahimovic shot wide but the linesman signalled a penalty and Couto got a red card.

While that goal was contentious, the winner was emphatic.

Ibrahimovic controlled a cross from substitute Julio Cruz before thrashing the ball home from close range.

That result will not only have upset Parma, but also Roma, who comfortably beat Catania 2-0 at home, as they were minutes away from finally cutting Inter's seven-point lead at the top, but it was not to be.

In a game marred by crowd violence before the game, with three Catania fans suffering from stab wounds, Frenchman Ludovic Giuly opened the scoring on eight minutes, mopping up the loose ball after Rodrigo Taddei's shot came back off the post.

Daniele De Rossi made the points safe just before the hour, scoring from the penalty spot after Taddei had been fouled in the area.

Alberto Gilardino scored an injury time winner to give AC Milan a vital boost in their bid to secure Champions League qualification for next season as they won 1-0 at Udinese.

The three points meant Milan closed the gap on fourth-placed Fiorentina to 10 points, although the European champions still have three games in hand.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti allowed himself to get a little carried away as he praised his match-winner, whom he only introduced to the match for the final eight minutes.

"Gilardino is a great player, in eight minutes he did more than Pato and Ronaldo did in 90 minutes," he said. "I've always said it's not the amount of playing time that counts but the quality for a player who is getting less playing time. But he is a great player and is always ready when called upon."

Milan had the first clear sight of goal in Udine on 26 minutes when Brazilian superstar Ronaldo broke free and crashed a fierce drive against the upright but then it was Milan's stand-in Australian goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac who kept the scores even.

He made saves from Simone Pepe and Italy international pair Antonio Di Natale and Fabio Quagliarella to keep the scores even at the break.

Quagliarella had two chances to break the deadlock after halftime but missed the ball with the first and blazed over the bar with the second.

But then substitute Gilardino stole the show in the dying moments, finishing off a sumptuous move that saw Brazilian starlet Pato back-heel the ball to Kaka, who flicked it through for the Italy striker to hold off Christian Zapata and finish low past Samir Handanovic.

Juventus stayed third but dropped to 12 points off Inter's pace as they were held 0-0 at home by Sampdoria.
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