Leonardo recorded his fifth straight win as Inter boss last night as the champions beat Cesena 3-2 at the San Siro to go fourth in Serie A.
Christian Chivu was the unlikely match-winner after goals from Erjon Bogdani and Emanuele Giaccherini had cancelled out Samuel Eto’o and Diego Milito’s early strikes for the hosts.
Cesena finished the game with 10 men after Giaccherini was harshly dismissed 15 minutes from the end.
Inter are now just six points behind city rivals and leaders Milan but with a game in hand.
Cesena struggled to live with their illustrious opponents and around the quarter hour mark they capitulated twice within a minute.
Eto’o opened the scoring with a cross shot from a tight angle. The second was immaculately created as Eto’o slipped Pandev in behind the backline and the Macedonia forward laid the ball on a plate for Milito to tap home from six yards.
However, while Inter were bristling going forward, they also showed a brittle backbone as Bogdani was left with time and space to control and shoot home low into the corner from inside the area.
Incredibly, just before the half hour mark, Cesena were level as Luis Suarez played the ball over a static defence for Giaccherini to run on and volley home.
Inter were soon back on the attack and Chivu made a late run into the box to head home Maicon’s cross in first-half stoppage-time.
The second period was a much tamer affair although Eto’o should have bagged a second following good work from Esteban Cambiasso but somehow contrived to crash a shot against the bar.
Roma triumph
Roma claimed derby honours as they progressed to the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup with a 2-1 win over Lazio yesterday.
Brazilian Simplicio scored the winning goal after both sides had netted a penalty.
Roma opened the scoring on 53 minutes as Marco Borriello scored from the spot after Stephan Lichsteiner’s handball.
But Juan felled Mauro Zarate four minutes later and Hernanes equalised from 12 yards.
Simplicio hit home a crisp right-footer 13 minutes from the end to put Roma into the last eight.
Sampdoria also reached the quarter-finals following a nail-biting victory over Udinese on penalties.
On-loan Manchester United forward Federico Macheda opened the scoring for the hosts in the 32nd minute but Mauricio Isla equalised for the visitors in the last minute of the game.
Udinese completed a quick-fire turnaround as German Denis put them in front in the first minute of extra time but Giampaolo Pazzini equalised from the spot in the second extra period.
Denis was then the only one to miss a spot-kick as Sampdoria won the shoot-out 5-4.