Soccer: Leaders Inter Beat Udinese 2-1

Milan: Inter hung on at the end to beat Udinese 2-1 at San Siro on Sunday and consolidate their lead at the top of Serie A. The reigning Italian champions looked to be cruising when first-half goals by Davide Frattesi and Marko Arnautovic put them in command.

According to Ansa News Agency, Oumar Solet pulled one back for the visitors in the 79th minute and Inter had to endure intense pressure in the closing stages, with coach Simone Inzaghi sent off for dissent as tempers frayed. Inter have 67 points from 30 games, six points more than second-placed Napoli, who are set to entertain AC Milan later on Sunday.

Fiorentina dented Atalanta’s hopes of lifting this season’s Serie A title, beating the Bergamo side 1-0 in Florence on Sunday thanks to a goal by Italy forward Moise Kean at the end of the first half. Europa League champions Atalanta are third with 58 points, while Fiorentina are eighth with 51.

Cagliari boosted their hopes of avoiding the drop to the second tier when they thumped Serie A’s bottom side Monza 3-0 at home. The victory came thanks to second-half goals by midfielders Nicolas Viola and Gianluca Gaetano and an injury-time score by Angola forward Zito Luvumbo. The win lifts the Sardinian side to 15th with 29 points from 30 games, six points above the relegation zone.