Lazio consolidate top spot
Reuters - Sunday 24 October 2010, 21:13
MILAN - Surprise Serie A leaders Lazio
watched their eagle mascot fluff its lines but made no mistake
in recording their fourth straight win with a tense 2-1 home
victory over Cagliari on Sunday.
Their advantage at the top was extended to four points after
second-placed Inter Milan were held to a 1-1 draw by Sampdoria
in driving rain at the San Siro.
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Samuel Eto'o poked in the lively Coutinho's cross 10 minutes
from time, his 15th goal in 13 club games this term, to hand the
champions a deserved point in the late game after many chances.
Stefano Guberti had put Sampdoria ahead midway through the
second half when Julio Cesar failed to keep out his acrobatic
effort after Antonio Cassano had escaped the referee's whistle
when robbing Cristian Chivu of the ball.
The downpour was so heavy that Samp's white shirts became
almost see-through while Inter coach Rafael Benitez was
constantly wiping his glasses as play became difficult.
Wesley Sneijder, who reports say is stalling on a new
contract amid interest from the likes of Manchester United, had
a rare off day for the treble winners who still lack options
from the bench given Diego Milito's injury.
AC Milan can cut Lazio's lead to two points if they win at
Napoli without the injured Ronaldinho on Monday.
Sergio Floccari's first-half goal and a fortunate second
from Stefano Mauri when the ball went in off his chest helped
Lazio to 19 points, their best ever total in the top-flight
after eight matches.
Alessandro Matri pulled one back for Cagliari to set up a
nervous finish but Edy Reja's group of journeymen, relegation
candidates last term, hung on to top spot for another week.
PENALTY SAVED
Lazio's rise to the top of the table seems to have rubbed
off on this term's new mascot, Olimpia the eagle, who decided to
settle on the Stadio Olimpico roof rather than land on the pitch
as instructed during a pre-match routine.
Handlers managed to get him down as the game went on with
rivals now plotting how to drag Lazio back down to earth too.
"We suffered a lot in the second half. There was a bit of
pressure and fear," Reja, whose side host Serie B's Portogruaro
in the Italian Cup on Wednesday, told Sky TV.
"But this team shows great character and determination.
Obviously talk of the scudetto is wide of the mark."
Thrilled Lazio fans, who still only filled less than half of
the Olimpico, will have even wider smiles this week after
faltering city rivals AS Roma drew 0-0 at bottom side Parma and
visiting captain Francesco Totti was substituted at halftime.
A mini-revival from fifth-placed Juventus ended when they
were also held to a goalless stalemate at Bologna where Vincenzo
Iaquinta had a penalty saved by Italy keeper Emiliano Viviano.
The hosts felt justice had been done on 36 minutes after
winger Milos Krasic went down in the area despite replays
showing no contact with Daniele Portanova.
Chievo moved up to fourth after a last-gasp 2-1 win over
Cesena while Genoa are ninth with a 1-0 win over Catania and
Lecce lie 10th after a 2-1 comeback success downed Brescia.
Improving Udinese beat inconsistent Palermo 2-1.