Thursday, September 2, 2010

Jose Mourinho's Inter opened up a yawning gap at the top of the Serie A table as challengers Juventus crashed to plucky Cagliari.

Inter dominated their match against Fiorentina, but they needed a theatrical dive in the box from Diego Milito and a big helping hand from the ref to turn that into three points.

The Serie A champions were heading for a goalless draw, only for Argentina international Milito to hit the deck in the box under minimal contact from Gianluca Comotto.

The Inter hitman picked himself up to slot home the spot kick and move Inter eight points clear of faltering Juve.

When asked if his side would now focus on Europe with such a big gap at the top of the table, Mourinho said:

“I have just one duty - to be honest. I don’t need to win anything, not the championship, not the Champions League.”

Sulley Muntari passed up two good chances while Portugal winger Ricardo Quaresma hit a cross shot just past the far post.

Walter Samuel headed home a corner but the Inter veteran’s effort was ruled out as he had a grip on Dario Dainelli’s shirt.

Alberto Gilardino hit the post in Fiorentina’s only real chance late on while Inter forward Samuel Eto’o wasted a late one-on-one with keeper Sebastien Frey.

But that was after Milito had struck from the spot to ease the pressure.

Results went Inter’s way too, as Ciro Ferrara’s Juve fell eight points behind thanks to a costly defeat in Sardinia.

Cagliari took the lead on the half hour through Nene.

From a quickly taken free-kick the Brazilian took a touch and hit a rocket into the top corner from 25 yards to beat Gianluigi Buffon all ends up.

Francesco Pissano saved Cagliari ten minutes from time with a crucial diving block to stop a Christian Molinaro volley from six yards, before goalkeeper Federico Marchetti palmed away a dangerous free-kick from Juve’s Alessandro Del Piero.

Cagliari sub Alessandro Matri sealed the victory a minute from time as he ran onto a Jeda flick-on, beat Fabio Cannavaro on the outside and shot under Buffon.