Ibrahimovic strikes twice as Inter extend lead

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice to guide Inter to a 2-1 win at Ascoli yesterday and extend their lead at the top of Serie A to 18 points. The Swede's goals, which took his tally to five in his last five league games, gave Inter 76 points from 28 matches. Second-placed Roma lost ground after being held 0-0 by 10-man Fiorentina.

Inter's city rivals Milan also won, beating Atalanta 1-0 thanks to a header by midfielder Massimo Ambrosini.

The result lifted Milan to fifth on 43 points. Lazio leapfrogged Palermo in third place after beating Empoli 3-1 in the evening match, to notch up their sixth successive win.

More than 50 points separated Inter from Ascoli, who have spent most of this season anchored to the bottom of the division.

Inter, however, struggled to find a way through the home side's defence until the 65th minute, when Adriano crossed from the right for Ibrahimovic to volley past keeper Dimitrios Eleftheropoulos.

Adriano also set up Ibrahimovic's second goal, dribbling round two defenders before sliding the ball forward for the Swedish striker to fire in a shot between Eleftheropoulos's legs.

Ascoli's consolation goal, which Massimo Bonanni scored from the penalty spot after Walter Samuel fouled Sasa Bjelanovic, arrived in stoppage time.

Inter coach Roberto Mancini was full of praise for 25-year-old Ibrahimovic, who has been viewed more as a second striker than an out-and-out finisher since he arrived in Italy in 2004.

"He's still young, but I think Ibrahimovic is capable of doing anything, even playing up front as a lone striker," he said.

"He can become a great centre-forward. He's got power, technique, speed, and enormous potential to improve."

Inter's commanding position at the top of Serie A has been strengthened recently by Roma's indifferent away form.

Roma had drawn four and lost one of their previous five away games prior to arriving at Fiorentina's Stadio Franchi, but were by far the more lively side even before home defender Dario Dainelli was sent off in the 33rd minute for a second bookable offence.

Only the repeated heroics of keeper Sebastien Frey prevented Roma from taking the lead. The Frenchman twice saved early efforts by Francesco Totti and jabbed a Simone Perrotta shot out with his feet in a busy first half.

Manuel Pasqual hit Roma's post with a free kick shortly after the interval, but Roma created the best chances of the second half, with Frey pulling off a great diving save to tip a Totti shot round his post.

Milan meanwhile kept up their charge for a place in next season's Champions League by beating Atalanta. The six-times European champions fielded an all-Brazilian attack of Ronaldo and Ricardo Oliveira, but it was Italian workhorse Ambrosini who headed in from a corner to seal the points.

Two newcomers in Italy squad

Italy coach Roberto Donadoni has called up Roma defender Max Tonetto and Sampdoria striker Fabio Quagliarella for the first time in a 25-man squad for the Euro 2008 qualifier against Scotland. Italy face the Scots in Bari on March 28 but will be missing Alessandro Nesta and Vincenzo Iaquinta who are injured.

Quagliarella, 24, is considered one of Italy's best young strikers and has scored 11 goals in Serie A this season.

Other players rewarded for their recent good form were the Milan duo of Massimo Ambrosini and Daniele Bonera.

Midfielder Ambrosini has been crucial in Milan's drive for a place in next season's Champions League.

Defender Bonera was used by former Italy coaches Giovanni Trapattoni and Marcello Lippi, but never by Donadoni.

Italy are third in group B with seven points from four matches, two points behind leaders Scotland.

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Amelia (Livorno), Abbiati (Torino).

Defenders: Tonetto (Roma), Oddo (Milan), Zambrotta (Barcelona), Barzagli (Palermo), Materazzi (Inter), Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Bonera (Milan), Pasqual (Fiorentina).

Midfielders: Mauri (Lazio), Ambrosini (Milan), De Rossi (Roma), Gattuso (Milan), Pirlo (Milan), Semioli (Chievo), Perrotta (Roma), Camoranesi (Juventus).

Strikers: Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Rocchi (Lazio), Toni (Fiorentina), Gilardino (Milan), Del Piero (Juventus), Di Natale (Udinese).