By Alberto Cagliano Dec 5, 2009, 20:48 GMT
Rome - Juventus summoned their seemingly lost grit late Saturday to edge 2-1 Serie A leaders Inter Milan through goals from Giorgio Chiellini and Claudio Marchisio.
The two young internationals helped the Turin hosts come out of crisis marked by 2-0 defeats suffered away to Bordeaux and Cagliari in their past two outings.
Third-placed Juve have now 30 points from 15 games and lie five points adrift of the Italian champions, who saw cross-town AC Milan close in to within four points through an earlier 3-0 drubbing of Sampdoria.
Inter were on the ropes early in the game under assault from Juve, whose pressing paid off on 21 minutes with a short-lived lead obtained as full-back Chiellini nodded home a Diego free kick with the help of a deflection from Brazilian Lucio, who wrong-footed his compatriot Julio Cesar.
After the goal, Inter coach Jose Mourinho was dismissed for angrily protesting the awarding of the free kick and left the pitch amid loud jeers from the Turin crowd.
Mourinho's men promptly pulled themselves together and produced a couple of storming attacks that allowed them to equalize five minutes later through a header from Samuel Eto'o.
Argentine defender Walter Samuel headed home to force a great save from Gianluigi Buffon, who dove to slap the ball away from under the bar, but was helpless when Cameroon's Eto'o connected with a Dejan Stankovic cross.
Juve were shaken after the equalizer but gradually regained the upper hand, although at a slower pace than at the game's start.
There seemed to be a lack of stamina in the second half, although Inter were more enterprising and came close when Stankovic saw a defender block his fierce drive aimed by the far post and Eto'o missed the tap-in.
The following action on 69 minutes was deadly for Inter as Marchisio set up Mali's Mohamed Sissoko for a fast drive and snatched Julio Cesar's deflection leaping past Samuel to fire past the Brazilian goalkeeper.
Juve's lead inflamed the home crowd and triggered Inter's furious reaction that, however, lacked order and the usual power.
Inter Argentine midfielder Esteban Cambiasso nodded wide before a riot triggered by Felipe Melo's elbowing of Inter substitute Mario Balotelli.
Brazil midfielder Melo was red-carded with three minutes left, while Buffon and Balotelli were booked when the referee managed to cool things down.
In earlier action, Milan rolled past Sampdoria with goals from Marco Borriello, Dutchman Clarence Seedorf and young Brazilian Pato.
The Devils were inspired by Brazilian Ronaldinho early in the game as they annihilated Samp for a fifth straight win.
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