Lazio draw level at top, worsen Inter Milan’s crisis

ROME - Lazio beat Inter Milan 3-1 Friday to hold the Italian champions far from the upper tiers and draw level with Serie A leaders AC Milan.

Milan can regain the lead and leave the city rivals 10 points behind when they welcome promoted Brescia Saturday for a regional derby.

At Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, defender Giuseppe Biava flicked home in the first half, Argentine Mauro Zarate added a second goal with a deft flick 12 minutes after the break, and Brazilian Hernanes secured the win with one minute left.

The Nerazzurri found a consolation goal from Macedonian Goran Pandev, playing alone upfront with Cameroon bomber Samuel Eto’o suspended and Argentina’s Diego Milito out along with 10 other injured team-mates.

Lazio were more aggressive in midfield and took the lead after goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi deflected a header from Sergio Floccari and found assistance from Colombian Ramiro Cordoba in blocking captain Luciano Mauri’s flick on the rebound.

Biava nudged home the ball with his chest on 26 minutes after a clearance attempt from Argentine Esteban Cambiasso on a corner-kick action.

Inter had a first reaction on 32 minutes with Dutchman Wesley Sneijder firing a fast free kick to warm up the hands of Fernando Muslera, who then dove well to deflect a shot from Dejan Stankovic’s substitute Thiago Motta.

With no revving up from Inter after the break, Lazio scored again on 52 minutes with a sweet close-range lob from Zarate off a deep feed from Brazilian Hernanes.

There were more threats for Castellazzi from a break by Floccari and a nasty drive from Hernanes before Pandev on 74 minutes profited from a lucky rebound to fire past Muslera.

Inter gained confidence and came close with young Romanian substitute Denis Alibec and Cordoba, but bid farewell to a possible draw when Hernanes drilled home a late free kick before a last bar-shaking drive from Sneijder.