Stankovic fires hat-trick as Inter rolls past Parma
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Dejan Stankovic set alight a freezing San Siro with his first three goals of the Serie A season in Inter Milan's remarkable 5-2 win over Parma yesterday, its first league victory in a month.
The champion has struggled so far this term with injuries and form but the pressure on coach Rafael Benitez was further eased by a battling win which sent his side up to fifth pending yesterday's games.
Inter (23) now trails leader AC Milan by seven points after its city rival drew 1-1 at Sampdoria on Saturday, giving second-placed Lazio the chance to cut the gap at the top to a point with a home win over Catania. Also on Saturday, Juventus drew with Fiorentina 1-1. Juventus is fourth on 24 and Fiorentina (16) is 13th.
Former Inter forward Hernan Crespo gave Parma an early lead and struck again after two Stankovic efforts and Esteban Cambiasso's goal. Thiago Motta and Stankovic sealed the win after the break.
"It's our fault they were still in the game. We started badly and conceded the goal but showed a great reaction," Serbia midfielder Stankovic told Sky.
Another modest crowd turned up given the unpopular new midday kickoff slot, the cold weather and Inter's recent woes.
Inter ultras also came late in protest at the government's imposition of electronic supporter cards to track hooligans and most missed Crespo's opener for Parma when he flicked in at the near post after just four minutes with the home defense nowhere.
The hosts qualified for the Champions League last 16 last Wednesday with a nervous 1-0 win over Twente Enschede which they hoped would be the turning point for their lackluster season. However, Parma's opening burst put the pressure back on the injury-hit treble winners, who were playing with the out-of-form Goran Pandev upfront alone given Samuel Eto'o's suspension.
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