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ESPNsoccernet: Europe |
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Sunday, October 23, 2011
Boateng inspires Milan comeback
Substitute Kevin-Prince Boateng inspired AC Milan to a thrilling 4-3 comeback victory in Lecce with a second-half hat-trick for the visitors.
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| Kevin-Prince Boateng sparked AC Milan's comeback against Lecce (GettyImages) |
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Guillermo Giacomazzi, Massimo Oddo and Carlos Grossmuller established a 3-0 lead for the home side by half-time, but Boateng sprang from the bench to score three goals in 14 minutes to bring Milan level.Mario Yepes clinched the winner in the 83rd minute as Massimiliano Allegri's side managed to move up to fifth in the table when they were facing the prospect of dropping as low as 16th at the interval.
Inter Milan recorded only their second Serie A victory of the season after easing past Chievo 1-0 at the San Siro.Thiago Motta struck a 34th-minute winner as Inter finally gave their fans something to celebrate having failed to win in their previous four home matches in all competitions and having lost four of their six games in Serie A this term.The result lifts Inter onto seven points but still leaves Claudio Ranieri's men struggling at the wrong end of the table, while Chievo are two points better off after seeing their four-match unbeaten run come to an end.
Antonio Di Natale fired Udinese to the top of Serie A with two goals in a 3-0 win over Novara at the Stadio Friuli.Luck was on his side as he opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, but his talent accounted for his second and Udinese's third in the 49th minute. Maurio Domizzi was also on target for the hosts with his first goal of the season in the 39th minute.
Lazio clinched their third straight victory in Serie A and climbed into second place by beating Bologna 2-0.
A first-half own goal by Bologna striker Robert Acquafresca put the visitors on their way before Lazio's Senad Lulic doubled his team's advantage early in the second half. Bologna, with just one victory so far, could not find a way past Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti and slipped to their fifth defeat of the campaign.
Maximiliano Moralez scored twice in three minutes to earn Atalanta their fourth Serie A win of the season as they beat Parma 2-1 at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.Moralez put the visitors in front in the 55th minute before he found the back of the net again soon after to double the lead.Parma hit back through Jamie Valdes in the 80th minute but the substitute's score turned out only to be a consolation goal. Parma are now one point above Atalanta in Serie A in 14th place.
Cagliari held Napoli to a goalless draw at the Sant' Elia stadium to extend their unbeaten run in Serie A to four games.The hosts were twice denied by the woodwork in the first half while Napoli's Mario Santana hit the post in the 33rd minute, but that was as close as the Naples outfit came on a frustrating afternoon.The result lifted Cagliari to third place, one point clear of Napoli after seven games.
Erik Lamela made a dream debut for Roma with the winning goal against Palermo at the Stadio Olimpico.The former River Plate playmaker played from the start against Palermo and put Roma ahead in the seventh minute. The home side squandered numerous chances to extend their lead but held on for three points.
Siena enjoyed only their second win of the Serie A season to heap more misery on bottom side Cesena as they notched a 2-0 success.Goals early in each half from Pablo Gonzalez and Emanuele Calaio clinched the points for the hosts, who took full advantage of a Cesena team without suspended striker Adrian Mutu.