Inter on Cruz control to stun Juve

The title race in Italy was thrown wide open as Inter Milan bounced back from their Champions League humiliation in midweek by ending Juventus' unbeaten run with a stunning 3-1 victory over the Serie A league leaders.

Argentine striker Julio Cruz scored twice and speedy Nigerian teenager Obafemi Martins added a third as Inter chalked up their fourth consecutive league win and extinguished the memory of Tuesday's 5-1 thrashing at home to Arsenal.

Juve's only reply in Turin came a minute from time when Uruguayan defender Paolo Montero headed home from close range.

Inter's win not only resurrected their own title ambitions but also gives Roma and AC Milan, who share second place, the chance to leapfrog Juve at the top of the table on Sunday.

Inter remain fourth but close the gap on Juve to four points. Juventus are on 26 points, two ahead of Roma and Milan.

Cruz, standing in for the injured Christian Vieri, said Inter had redeemed themselves with their first away to Juventus in 10 years.

"The game against Arsenal was strange but we know we are a good team and we showed that tonight," said the former Bologna marksman.

"We knew that it was going to be a very difficult game but luckily we've closed the gap on Juve which is what we set out to do.

"We were successful in putting away our chances and that was crucial. Now we must maintain the same character and then we can go far."

Juve coach Marcello Lippi admitted a rejuvenated Inter were worthy of the three points.

"We are a team full of quality but we were unable to express ourselves," he said.

"Inter had something extra than us in terms of character and determination and I have to compliment them for the way they performed. We will take a look at where we went wrong but don't forget it was our first defeat of the season.

"On many other occassions against our rivals we have shown that we have something more, but tonight was not the case."

Inter went ahead after their first attack ended with Martins being chopped down by Montero just outside the penalty box.

Cruz accepted responsibilty and curled a vicious free-kick which Gianluigi Buffon got a hand to but could not prevent from finding the top corner.

Juventus should have drawn level just after the half hour when a free-kick was deflected into the path of Mauro Camoranesi, but the Argentine born Italy international shot wildly over the bar from six yards.

Inter dominated at the start of the second-half and it was no surprise when Cruz scored his second of the night in the 69th minute, firing low past Gianlugi Buffon after the Juve goalkeeper had saved his first effort.

Martins, who was a real handful for the Juve defence, completed Juve's misery six minutes later, snatching possession from a hesistant Nicola Legrottaglie before slotting past Buffon.

Earlier on Saturday Lazio's brittle confidence sunk even lower after they crashed to a 3-0 defeat away to a spirited Siena.

Brazilian Rodrigo Taddei was the architect of Lazio's downfall, scoring twice in the final four minutes of a pulsating first-half before setting up compatriot Fernando Menegazzi for a late third as Roberto Mancini's men fell to their fourth league defeat of the season.

Lazio, whose Champions League hopes are hanging by a thread after Wednesday's disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Besiktas, were forced to play the last 23 minutes with 10 men following the sending-off of Dejan Stankovic for verbally abusing a linesman.

Lazio remain fifth on 19 points while Siena, promoted as champions from Serie B last season, move up to seventh after recording only their third victory of the campaign.