Inter and Palermo share points in eight-goal thriller
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02/01/2012 -
Milan, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Diego Milito scored four times for Inter Milan
while Palermo got three goals from Fabrizio Miccoli in a 4-4 draw at the San
Siro on Wednesday.
Andrea Mantovani started the scoring barrage in the 16th minute when he put
Palermo in front. But Milito and Miccoli took over from there, with Milito
leveling the contest six minutes later to make it 1-1 at halftime.
Miccoli restored the lead for the visitors by beating Inter goalkeeper Julio
Cesar at the far post in the 52nd minute, only for the Nerazzurri to come
right back and answer from the penalty spot through Milito after Yuto Nagatomo
was fouled inside the area by Palermo's Ezequiel Munoz.
Milito completed his hat trick just after the hour mark when he finished off a
header from Esteban Cambiasso. But Miccoli responded when he tracked down a
cross from Federico Balzaretti to nod the ball past Cesar from six yards.
Inter went back in front in the 68th minute when Milito netted his fourth goal
with a bit of luck as Giampaolo Pazzini's scuffed shot deflected off the leg
of the Argentina international and found the back of the net.
But with Inter poised to collect all three points, Miccoli finished off his
own hat trick five minutes from time by racing on to a through ball from Josip
Ilicic and slotting his shot past Cesar.
Inter has now claimed one point from its last two games after winning its
previous seven, leaving the club eight points back of leaders Juventus.
Lazio 2, AC Milan 0
Rome, Italy - AC Milan missed out on a chance to move to the Serie A summit on
Wednesday as the club sustained a 2-0 defeat to Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico.
Juventus held a one-point lead on second-place Milan and the end of last
weekend, but the Old Lady had its match with Parma postponed on Tuesday
because of snow, giving the Rossoneri a chance to take over the top spot.
But the visitors failed to take advantage as Lazio scored twice in the final
15 minutes to claim the win and move to within four points of Milan.
Hernanes netted the first goal in the 76th minute after being set up by
Tommaso Rocchi, who tallied a goal of his own five minutes from time to seal
the win.
Cagliari 4, Roma 2
Cagliari, Italy - Thiago Ribeiro scored a goal in each half as Roma's five-
game unbeaten streak came to an end on Wednesday with a 4-2 defeat at
Cagliari.
Ribeiro scored in the sixth minute for Cagliari, but Roma responded with goals
from Juan and Fabio Borini to take a 2-1 lead.
Mauricio Pinilla leveled the match at halftime with his first goal for the
club, and Ribeiro put the hosts in front a few minutes after the break before
Albin Ekdal put the result away two minutes into stoppage time with a close-
range tap in.
Napoli 0, Cesena 0
Naples, Italy - Napoli's struggles continued on Wednesday as the club extended
its winless streak to four games after a 0-0 home draw with relegation-
battling Cesena.
Napoli now trails third-place Udinese by 11 points, with Cesena sitting in
19th place and three points from safety.
The hosts created the better chances throughout the match but were denied by
some good goalkeeping from Cesena's Francesco Antonioli.
And Napoli was a bit unlucky in stoppage time not to claim all three points as
Goran Pandev had a goal called back by referee Luca Banti seemingly for a foul
in the build up.
Udinese 2, Lecce 1
Udine, Italy - Udinese gained ground on the Serie A leaders on Wednesday
courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Lecce at the Stadio Friuli.
Michele Pazienza put the home side on the scoreboard inside of two minutes,
with Lecce's David Di Michele answering back for his team midway through the
opening half.
But Antonio Di Natale's 15th goal of the campaign came nine minutes before the
break when Antonio Floro Flores played a square ball to the striker, who beat
goalkeeper Massimiliano Benassi with a shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Udinese came close to adding to its lead in the second half, but still held on
to move to within three points of Juventus at the top of the league.
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Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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