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ROME, Italy -- Dejan Stankovic scored a goal in each half to send Inter Milan back to the top of Serie A with a 2-1 win over Catania on Sunday. The result gave the Italian champions 14 points from six matches, two points ahead of Roma, who lacked their usual fluency in a 1-0 defeat at Reggina. Inter also climbed above Palermo, who lost 3-2 at home to Atalanta. Having drawn with Cagliari in their last league match, Inter's players were keen to get their title challenge back on track with a victory over promoted Catania. However, the visitors proved remarkably resistant at the San Siro, clinging on to possession and taking an unexpected lead when striker Giuseppe Mascara looped a superb shot over goalkeeper Julio Cesar from wide on the left after 16 minutes. Stankovic equalised when he headed a Luis Figo cross into the bottom corner of Cagliari's net after 29 minutes but Inter continued to misfire until Julio Cruz replaced Brazilian striker Adriano on the hour mark. Seven minutes after coming on Cruz was fouled by Mauro Minelli to earn a penalty but his spot kick was turned round the post by Armando Pantanelli. The Catania keeper was left flat-footed, though, in the 75th minute, when a punched clearance dropped kindly for Stankovic at the edge of the area and he volleyed home Inter's second goal. The champions were not the only top side struggling to find their rhythm. Roma's normally slick passing game constantly broke down on the sodden pitch at Reggina's Granillo stadium. Striker Nicola Amoruso volleyed the winner for the home side early in the second half and Roma came close to conceding another goal as they pushed forward late on. Palermo's defeat, meanwhile, cemented their reputation as Serie A's most prolific -- and prodigal -- side. After six rounds, the Sicilians have scored more goals (14) than any other side but have also conceded 12 times and have the leakiest defence in the division apart from lowly Parma. In the first half they twice fell behind to goals by Cristiano Doni and Claudio Rivalta only for a Mark Bresciano strike and a Eugenio Corini penalty to pull them level. But in the 55th minute Atalanta midfielder Fernando Tissone spun on the edge of the area and rifled a shot into the roof of the net to condemn Palermo to a second defeat in three games. Inter players mob Stankovic as a 2-1 victory saw them go top of the Serie A table. |