Mihajlovic double sends Inter third

Two Sinisa Mihajlovic free kicks gave Inter a 2-0 victory over Roma yesterday and moved them into third spot in Serie A.

Inter jumped two points ahead of Udinese to 42 from 24 matches, eight behind leaders Juventus, who play Udinese today.

The 35-year-old defender broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute, when he curled the ball past Ivan Pelizzoli from a wide position outside the area.

Roma pressed forward in search of an equaliser and only a last-ditch tackle by defender Ivan Cordoba prevented Vincenzo Montella finishing from close range just before the break.

Mexes sent off

They continued to look lively in the second half though were unable to find a chink in the home side's defence and their hopes ended in the first minute of stoppage time, when Philippe Mexes was sent off for a second bookable offence and Mihajlovic rifled in the resulting free kick to seal victory.

Earlier, Roma's city rivals Lazio climbed four points clear of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win over Atalanta.

Lazio had earned just a single point in their previous five games and seemed to be heading for a disappointing draw against bottom-placed Atalanta after first half goals by striker Fabio Bazzani and Stephen Makinwa cancelled each other out.

Fabio Liverani, however, broke the deadlock with just a minute of normal time remaining when he beat goalkeeper Alex Calderoni with a shot from inside the area.

Serie A

Played Yesterday
Lazio 2
Atalanta 1
Inter 2
Roma 0

Playing Today
Bologna vs Palermo (0-1)
Brescia vs Cagliari (1-2)
Fiorentina vs Parma (0-0)
Juventus vs Udinese (1-0)
Lecce vs Chievo (1-2)
Livorno vs Sampdoria (0-2)
Reggina vs Milan (1-3) 8.30 p.m.
Siena vs Messina (1-4)

Serie B

Playing Today
AlbinoLeffe vs Bari (1-1)
Catania vs Torino (1-2)
Crotone vs Catanzaro (2-2)
Genoa vs Perugia (2-2)
Pescara vs Venezia (1-1)
Piacenza vs Vicenza (2-4)
Salernitana vs Empoli (0-3)
Ternana vs Modena (0-4)
Triestina vs Arezzo (Friday) 2-1
Verona vs Cesena (1-0)

Playing Tomorrow
Treviso vs Ascoli (1-2)

Serie C1(A) Como vs Lumezzane; Cremonese vs Vittoria; Fidelis Andria vs Torres; Frosinone vs Spezia; Novara vs Pavia; Pisa vs Grosseto; Pistoiese vs Pro Patria; Prato vs Lucchese; Sangiovannese vs Mantova.

Serie C1(B) Avellino vs Napoli; Chieti vs Benevento; Giulianova vs Foggia; Martina vs Sora; Padova vs Vis Pesaro; Reggiana vs Teramo; Rimini vs Lanciano; Sambenedettese vs Cittadella; Spal vs Fermana.