Inzaghi joins 300 club, Inter maintain lead

March 16, 2009

ROME (AFP) – Filippo Inzaghi racked up 300 career goals as the veteran striker bagged a brace in AC Milan’s 5-1 stroll at Siena on Sunday that boosted their quest to secure third place in Serie A.

Inter Milan maintained their seven-point lead over Juventus at the top as they defeated Fiorentina 2-0 at the San Siro thanks to two goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

AS Roma’s bid to earn a top four spot, and the final Champions League qualifying berth, took a knock as their injury-ravaged side was held 2-2 at Sampdoria.

But in the picturesque Truscan city of Siena it was Inzaghi’s day as the 35-year-old took his tally to five goals in his last two matches.

"Today I’m celebrating an achievement that fills me full of pride," said Inzaghi.

"Destiny is an incredible thing because my first goal was for Leffe and I also scored it away to Siena and today I’ve reached this 300 milestone again against Siena."

Andrea Pirlo scored from the spot and Pato added two more while Massimo Maccarone scored Siena’s consolation.

As well as taking home three points, Milan also saw the return to action of Brazilians Kaka and Ronaldinho following injury.

There was one negative, though, as goalkeeper Christian Abbiati was stretchered off in the first half with suspected knee ligament damage that could see him sidelined for six months.

Their first goal was a little soft as Houssine Kharja was harshly penalised for a foul on French midfielder Mathieu Flamini with Pirlo stroking home the penalty.

It was a veteran pair who combined for Milan’s second just before the break as David Beckham swung over a corner that Inzaghi tapped home at the back post.

Any uncertainty over the result was ended by teenage Brazilian Pato who scored with a long drive 10 minutes after the break.

After Maccarone pulled a goal back Inzaghi latched onto a delightful pass from Pirlo to fire home at the near post on 71 minutes before Pato added the fifth, 12 minutes from time.

Fiorentina came close to breaking the deadlock in Milan when Alberto Gilardino teed up Adrian Mutu but the Romania captain shot straight at Julio Cesar’s legs.

They were made to pay on 11 minutes when goalkeeper Sebastien Frey tried to punch clear a Mario Balotelli free-kick but he pushed the ball into Ibrahimovic who reacted quickest to nod home the rebound.

Gilardino brought a fine save out of Julio Cesar with a clever flick and after the break Mutu squandered another excellent opportunity by neither shooting nor crossing to Gilardino but dragging the ball well wide of the far post.

But Ibrahimovic settled things four minutes into stoppage time with a rocket of a free-kick from 30 yards that left Frey with no chance as Inter rebounded from their midweek Champions League exit at the hands of Manchester United.

In Genoa, Roma were also looking to bounce back from their Champions League defeat to Arsenal and they were off to a flying start as Max Tonetto crossed for Julio Baptista to slide the ball home at the back post on seven minutes.

Giampaolo Pazzini scored a brace to put the hosts in the driving seat but Brazilian Baptista added a penalty late on to earn a point.

Roma played half an hour with 10 men after Marco Motta was dismissed and coach Luciano Spalletti was pleased with his team’s fighting spirit.

"I congratulated my lads, they fought hard and they deserved (the point), even with 10 men we were looking for a winner," said Spalletti.

"In this match we played how I want us to right to the end of the season. There are still many matches ahead and 30 points to be won."

Former Italy coach Roberto Donadoni began his career on the Napoli bench with a 1-1 draw at rock bottom Reggina, meaning Napoli still have not won since early January.

On Saturday Juventus kept in the title hunt with a 4-1 defeat of Bologna.

Written by; AFP

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