Round-Up: Inter beats Fiorentina 3-1, Roma held 1-1 at Livorno in Serie A

Andrew Roberts,Associated Press
Monday 22 January 2007 01:00 GMT
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Adriano scored one goal and set up another yesterday to help Inter Milan beat Fiorentina 3-1 and extend its league record run of victories to 13.

The Brazil striker passed to Dejan Stankovic in the 19th minute for Inter's first goal, and scored with a powerful free kick in the 24th.

Luca Toni stunned Inter at San Siro with a header in the fifth minute to put Fiorentina ahead 1-0. But Adriano passed to Stankovic just inside the area for the equalizer.

Adriano's goal, five minutes later, was his fourth in as many games and marked a full return to form for a player who, prior to Christmas, went nine months without scoring.

"He was lacking fitness," Inter coach Roberto Mancini said of Adriano. "But once he regained it things could only improve - for him and for us."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored Inter's third in the 71st from close range.

Inter fans made offensive chants against Real Madrid striker Ronaldo, who is reportedly seeking a move to city rival AC Milan. The fans also unfurled banners, one reading: "Ronaldo clown."

Ronaldo played for Inter from 1997-2002.

Francesco Toldo played instead of regular Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar, who withdrew yesterday morning with back trouble.

Inter, which is unbeaten in the league, leads the Serie A with 54 points. AS Roma is second, 11 points behind, after drawing 1-1 at Livorno. Palermo is third with 39 points and was held to a 0-0 draw at Reggina on Saturday.

"We haven't sewn up the title yet," Mancini said. "We just have to think about continuing to play like we did today."

Also yesterday, loan-signing Giuseppe Rossi scored to lead Parma over Torino 1-0; Siena rallied to beat Chievo Verona 2-1 on second-half goals by Luca Antonini and Daniele Portanova; Vincenzo Iaquinta's 76th-minute header gave Udinese a 1-0 win over visiting Messina; David Suazo's penalty helped Cagliari to a 1-0 win over Catania; and Empoli beat Sampdoria 2-0 to climb to fourth in the standings.

Later, AC Milan traveled to Lazio. In Livorno, Cristiano Lucarelli put the hosts ahead with a 20th-minute penalty after being fouled by Roma defender Matteo Ferrari.

Roma had a host of chances to equalize in the first half, but defenders Philippe Mexes, Christian Panucci and Cristian Chivu were unable to hit the target.

Roma captain Francesco Totti finally made it 1-1 in the 74th from five meters (yards), off a pass by newly acquired Sweden midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson.

"The penalty hurt us," said Roma coach Luciano Spalletti. " The team gave a lot but got little for it."

Totti was sent off in the 90th for pushing Livorno defender Fabio Galante, who appeared to elbow the forward seconds before.

It was Roma's second successive draw.

At Ennio Tardini stadium, Rossi made a superb first appearance since rejoining his former club from Manchester United.

The 19-year-old forward, who was born in the United States but has played for Italy's under-21 team, went close on two occasions on either side of halftime, before collecting Paolo Castellini's cross in the 74th and dribbling through Torino's defense to score.

It was Parma's first win in 11 games.

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