Three goals in five second-half minutes at Chievo returned Roma to the top of Serie A on goal difference at Milan's expense.

A.S. Roma Francesco Totti celebrates as teammate Antonio Cassano jumps on his back after scoring against Chievo, during their Serie A soccer match at Bentegodi Stadium, in Verona, December 7, 2003. [Reuters]

The European champions had moved three points ahead of their Roman rivals thanks to Kaka's winner against Empoli on Saturday, and looked like staying there as Chievo held their visitors at 0-0 for 67 minutes.

But Italy's golden boy Francesco Totti found a way through for Roma, and after Alessandro Mancini had doubled the lead, Antonio Cassano wrapped up the scoring with eighteen minutes left.

Elsewhere, Christian Vieri scored twice for Inter Milan as they beat Perugia 2-1 to maintain their unbeaten run under coach Alberto Zaccheroni and fire them back into the title race.

Third-placed Juventus suffered their third defeat inside a week, going down 2-0 to Lazio on Saturday.

Fifth-placed Parma kept in touch with the leaders with two goals from Alberto Gilardino giving them a 2-1 win at Lecce.

Inter are unbeaten in Serie A since Zaccheroni took over from Hector Cuper in October and the victory over Perugia was their fourth win in a row.

Christian Vieri. Inter's championship challenge gained momentum after they chalked up their fifth Serie A win on the trot with a scrappy 2-1 victory over Perugia to move to within five points of leaders AC Milan. [AFP]

Vieri, returning from an injury lay-off, fired Inter ahead in the 25th minute with a left-foot finish after a neat exchange between Emre Belozoglu and Julio Ricardo Cruz.

Inter struggled under pressure from Perugia for long periods of the game but Vieri doubled their advantage 10 minutes from the end - racing on to a pass from Cruz and confidently firing home.

Giovanni Tedesco pulled a goal back for the visitors two minutes from time but Inter held on to keep hold of fourth place.

Many pundits expected Parma to fade when their Brazilian striker Adriano was sidelined with a serious hamstring injury but Italy Under-21 international Gilardino is proving to be an able replacement.

Gilardino was brought down by Lecce keeper Vukasin Poleksic in the 31st minute and the debutant was sent off for the challenge, but substitute keeper Marco Amelia saved Domenico Morfeo's penalty.

It was Gilardino though who put Parma ahead just after the break, latching on to a Mark Bresciano through ball and beating Amelia with a fine left-foot strike.

Impressive Uruguayan Ernesto Chevanton brought lowly Lecce level with a 69th minute penalty but Gilardino secured the three points for Parma with some smart footwork and a clinical finish in the 77th minute.

Bologna picked up their first win since September with a 3-2 victory over Ancona, including a spectacular strike from Carlo Nervo and an instinctive finish from Giuseppe Signori.

Germany international striker Carsten Jancker scored only his second goal in two and a half seasons as Udinese beat Reggina 1-0.

Jancker managed just one goal last term in Serie A following his goalless final season in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich.

Sampdoria moved up to seventh after goals from Francesco Glachi and Fabio Bazzani gave them a 2-1 win over Siena.

Close

Today's Top News		Top Sports News
+Wen warns Taiwan not to misuse democracy ( 2003-12-08) +Beijingers get greater poll choices ( 2003-12-08) +Chinese netizens to hit 78 million ( 2003-12-08) +Kicking around on roof of the world ( 2003-12-08) +Massive west-to-east migration proposed ( 2003-12-08)		+Carter's 30 helps Raptors beat Sonics 108-98 ( 2003-12-08) +Everton draw with Man City 0-0 ( 2003-12-08) +Memphis' Wells scores 16 against Blazers ( 2003-12-08) +Yao gets 20 rebounds in Rockets' win ( 2003-12-07) +Real underline gulf in class with Nou Camp win ( 2003-12-07)