Juve tops Inter as Roma closes in

BEIJING, March 24 -- Second-half goals from Mauro Camoranesi and David Trezeguet gave Juventus a 2-1 win at Serie A leader Inter Milan on Saturday, while second-placed AS Roma beat Empoli 2-1 to move within four points of the champion.

The defeat was only Inter's second in the league this season and the first at home since April last year.

Inter stayed on 68 points, while AS Roma has 64. Juventus is third with 58.

Camoranesi scored in the 49th minute and Trezeguet made it 2-0 in the 63rd with his 17th goal of the season, tying him for the league lead.

Portugal midfielder Maniche pulled one back for Inter seven minutes from time to set up a tense finish after Brazilian Maicon had danced through the Juve defense.

Inter was without midfielder Esteban Cambiasso due to a calf injury.

Inter had a few chances early, including when Dejan Stankovic hit the crossbar in the 18th and when goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon made a diving save on a free kick by Cristian Chivu in the 34th.

Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar also made several key saves to keep his team in the game.

In Rome, Christian Panucci headed in the winner in the 63rd to lead 10-man Roma over Empoli.

Roma had Simone Perrotta sent off for pulling down Felice Piccolo from behind in the 57th.

AC Milan got a goal from Alexandre Pato in the 67th to defeat Torino 1-0. Pato's goal, his seventh in 13 Serie A games, kept Milan four points behind fourth-place Fiorentina.

(Source: Shanghai Daily/Agencies)