Inter stay clear in title defense

MILAN, Italy -- Defending champions Inter Milan maintained their grip on the Serie A title race with an emphatic 3-0 win over Lazio at the San Siro on Wednesday.

But they were unable to shake off nearest challengers Roma who claimed a 2-0 home victory over relegation candidates Cagliari to stay within three points of the leaders.

Unbeaten Inter survived an early scare when top scorer Goran Pandev fired across goal and Stefano Mauri was a bootlace away from a touch at the far post.

And Roma probably knew it was not going tyo be their night when Guglielmo Stendardo was adjudged to have impeded Nicolas Burdisso and the referee pointed to the spot on 22 minutes.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic stepped up, and the Sweden forward fired home high to goalkeeper Marco Ballotta's right.

Inter doubled their advantage after 33 minutes when Brazilian full-back Maicon met Chilean midfielder Luis Jinenez's corner and buried a volley from inside the six-yard box.

The third goal came 10 minutes into the second half when Hondurian forward David Suazo latched onto a long ball from Argentina midfielder Esteban Cambiasso to score as Inter moved eight points clear of third-placed Juventus.

Francesco Totti made his return from injury to the Roma starting line-up but it was two-goal Brazilian midfielder Taddei who had things won by half-time.

He headed home a free-kick from David Pizarro on 28 minutes and eight minutes later finished off a flowing move involving Macedonia forward Mirko Vucinic and Brazilian winger Alessandro Mancini. E-mail to a friend