David Beckham created two goals as AC Milan thrashed Lazio 3-0 at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico on Sunday to move into second place.
The victory allowed Milan to cut Inter’s lead at the top to six points after their bitter city rivals were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Torino.
Beckham was chief orchestrator with pin-point crosses to create the first two goals, before Kaka rounded off the scoring late on.
PHOTO: AP
In the first half Beckham escaped down the right and crossed perfectly for Pato to steer home, although there was more than a hint that the former England captain was offside. Then, only three minutes into the second period, Beckham punished Lazio’s shoddy marking once again with a sumptuous delivery from a free-kick that Massimo Ambrosini gleefully headed home. Kaka got in behind the hosts’ defense again on 83 minutes before slotting home from an angle.
After Juventus’ shock 3-2 home defeat to Cagliari on Saturday, Inter could have gone nine points clear with victory, but they missed a glut of chances against Torino.
Inter endured a frustrating first 45 minutes as they struggled to break down stubborn opponents. They only had one clear sight of goal, when Julio Cruz brought a fine save out of Matteo Sereni on 35 minutes.
Jose Mourinho’s team fell behind on 47 minutes when Davide Santon failed to close down Blerim Dzemaili on Torino’s right. The Swiss midfielder crossed into the box where Ivan Cordoba was left flat-footed and Rolando Bianchi arched backwards and steered a header past Julio Cesar.
On 57 minutes, Sereni was at fault as he failed to reach a corner, allowing Nicolas Burdisso to head home from little more than 6m out.
Genoa tightened their grip on fourth place as Domenico Criscito scored two minutes from time to give them a 1-0 win over Palermo.
AS Roma’s charge up the table was blunted at Reggina despite a brace from Chile midfielder Claudio Pizarro as they were held 2-2.
Italian Serie A
Team P GD PTS
1 Inter 22 21 50
2 AC Milan 22 17 44
3 Juventus 22 17 43
4 Genoa 22 13 40
5 Roma 22 5 37
6 Fiorentina 21 9 35
7 Cagliari 22 5 34
8 Napoli 22 5 34
9 Palermo 22 2 32
10 Lazio 22 -3 31
11 Atalanta 22 1 30
12 Udinese 22 -3 27
13 Catania 22 -7 26
14 Siena 22 -7 25
15 Sampdoria 22 -6 24
16 Bologna 21 -9 22
17 Lecce 22 -10 22
18 Torino 22 -15 18
19 Chievo 22 -16 18
20 Reggina 22 -21 15
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