AC Milan lose to Genoa, Inter Milan beaten by Udinese PA Sport December 7, 2014 Genoa returned to third place in the Serie A table after Luca Antonellis first-half header secured a 1-0 win as AC Milan fell to their third defeat of the season. Fomer Milan defender Antonelli scored his second goal in as many games in the 32nd minute as the Rossoneri suffered their first loss on the road this term, but they remain in the hunt for a European berth nonetheless. Former Inter Milan coach Andrea Stramaccioni returned to San Siro to lead his Udinese side to a 2-1 victory. After being sacked in May 2013, the young tactician took a year out before landing the Bianconeri job and his one-time employers will wonder what might have been after watching Udinese dominate proceedings in Milan. Mauro Icardi gave Inter the lead just before half-time but a sumptuous solo goal from Bruno Fernandes drew Udinese level before substitute Cyril Thereau capitalised on a defensive blunder to steer home the winner. Stramaccionis men climb to eighth in Serie A after snapping a five-match winless streak while Roberto Mancinis Inter are marooned in the bottom half of the table on the back of their fifth defeat of the campaign. Napoli scored twice in the space of five minutes to salvage a point against Empoli in a dramatic 2-2 draw at the San Paolo stadium. Empoli looked to be on course for their third win in four league games when Simone Verdi gave them a first-half lead before team-mate Daniele Rugani made it 2-0 eight minutes after the restart. However, the hosts staged a comeback with Duvan Zapata reducing the deficit in the 67th minute before substitute Jonathan de Guzman made it 2-2 shortly after. Napoli had two clear-cut chances to win the match but Empoli goalkeeper Luigi Sepe pulled off a pair of outstanding saves to earn his team a deserved point. The result, Napolis third consecutive draw in Serie A, will be of little comfort for Napoli coach Rafa Benitez, whose team blew a chance to close the gap on high-fliers Juventus and Roma. Victory would have seen third-placed Napoli move nine points behind league leaders Juve after both they and Roma dropped points in draws against Fiorentina and Sassuolo, respectively. Lazio piled further misery on Parma with a 2-1 win at the Stadio Ennio Tardini that left Roberto Donadonis side rooted to the bottom of the Serie A table. Raffaele Palladino put the hosts ahead in the 45th minute but Parmas joy was shortlived as Lazios Stefano Mauri equalised seconds before half-time. Felipe Anderson then put the Romans in front for good before the hour mark as Lazio halted a three-match winless streak to climb to fifth in the standings. The defeat, Parmas 12th in 14 league games, has left the Ducale club five points adrift of safety. Atalanta came from behind to beat strugglers Cesena 3-2, thus ending a six-match winless run in Serie A. Gregoire Defrels brace had given Cesena a 2-0 lead after 43 minutes had been played before Yohan Benalouane reduced the deficit on the stroke of half-time. Goals from Guglielmo Stendardo and Maximiliano Moralez early in the second half handed Atalanta their first league win since Oct. 19 and boosted them four points clear of the relegation zone
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 05:33:07 +0000