Inzaghi pounces late to sink Palermo

Filippo Inzaghi pounced to head home an injury-time winner as AC Milan beat Palermo 2-1 at the San Siro to move up to fourth in Serie A on Sunday.

The European champions came into the match on the back of three successive draws but substitute "Superpippo" stooped to head home French midfielder Yoann Gourcuff's cross after he was left alone 6m out by Palermo's sleepy defense.

Earlier, Argentine striker Hernan Crespo preserved Inter Milan's unbeaten record by scoring a header 19 minutes from time to salvage a 1-1 draw for the leaders at Sampdoria.

Inter's lead at the top of the table was cut to nine points, though, as AS Roma snatched a 1-0 victory over Fiorentina at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.

Milan are now above fifth-placed Fiorentina on goal difference.

Palermo took a ninth minute lead in bizarre fashion as Milan's center-backs missed a long ball into the box and Australian midfielder Mark Bresciano flicked out a leg to steer the ball around Massimo Oddo and past his international team-mate Zeljko Kalac in the Milan goal.

Palermo were worthy of their lead until they were caught napping at the back on 24 minutes, allowing Massimo Ambrosini to bundle home an Oddo cross from barely 3m out after arriving late and at pace into the box.

Former Roma striker Antonio Cassano looked like he would inflict the first defeat of the season on the champions as he gave Sampdoria a 65th minute lead, latching onto a Paolo Sammarco chip into the box and taking a touch before thrashing the ball high to Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar's left after 65 minutes.

But Inter hit back 11 minutes later as Argentine striker Crespo, enjoying a rare start, stole in front of his marker to head home a cross from Serbian Dejan Stankovic.

Roma's Braizilian Cicinho scored a second half gol to earn his side victory over Fiorentina.

Udinese's Champions League hopes were hit by a 5-3 home defeat by Genoa as hot-shot Marco Borriello scored a second-half hat-trick for the visitors.

Siena moved out of the relegation zone after a 2-2 draw at Atalanta.