Serie A: Inter win against AS Roma but AC Milan extend their lead

(Football news) Inter Milan produced a clinical performance to beat AS Roma 3-1 at the San Siro as they closed the gap to the top to 2 points with a game in hand. Inter opened the scoring through the flying full-back Denzel Dumfries who fired his side into the lead on the half-hour mark, before a fine goal from Marcelo Brozovic doubled the Nerazzuri’s advantage five minutes before the break. In the second half, Argentine striker Lautaro Martinez headed home from a corner in the 52nd minute to virtually seal the tie as this was his third goal in two matches he has played in the San Siro. Henrikh Mkhitaryan then fired home a consolation goal in the 85th minute but it was too little too late for Jose Mourinho’s side. Inter's fourth successive league win moved them on to 72 points from 33 matches as Roma stayed fifth on 58 points.

Inter coach Simone Inzaghi said "I was very afraid of this match because it came three days after the derby [against Milan in the Coppa Italia] where we had given everything. We needed to put in an important performance and the guys delivered.

"I think this is such a crucial victory in our season. It's an intense moment, we should be good at managing mental forces and energies with several close matches to come, we want to play them with our chests out."

AC Milan extended their lead to 2 points as they won 2-1 against Lazio in dramatic fashion. The Rossenari soon found themselves behind in the match, when Serie A top scorer Ciro Immobile poked home in the fourth minute to give the home side the lead as Milan had plenty of chances to equalise in the first half, firing 12 shots on Lazio's goal in the first half but they could not capitalise on the flurry of chances. However, the visitors kept coming after the break as French striker Olivier Giroud fired Milan level in the 50th minute after some brilliant work by Rafael Leao

Veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic came off the bench in search of a winner and made a massive impact for Pioli’s men as the Swede turned provider for Tonali right at the death to spark wild scenes of celebration among Milan players and the few fans that had made the journey to the capital. This result come at the end of the season,will prove to be a crucial success should AC Milan win their first Scudetto since 2011. With this result they moved two points clear of second-placed Inter with 74 points as Lazio stayed seventh on 56 points.

A jubilant Pioli heaped praise on his side, saying: "It is right to be satisfied and happy for our players who are lions.They get too little credit but they are proving to be very strong,There are four games to go, all of them must be won, I don't know if we will succeed but we are very strong.

He added, "There is no team that is so young and fighting for the Scudetto. I ask the guys for a last effort, now we have to throw ourselves into the championship. Let's play the next one to the maximum, it is useless to think too far ahead."

Also read: Bundesliga: Bayern win their 10th successive Bundesliga

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