Adriano's header lifts Inter Milan past Sampdoria
(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-12 14:42

Adriano ended his 10-match scoreless streak with a 40th-minute header, and Inter Milan beat Sampdoria 1-0 Saturday to move within one point of second-place AC Milan in the Serie A.

Inter Milan's Brazilian forward Laito Ribeiro Adriano celebrates after scoring a goal against Sampdoria during his Serie A football match at San Siro stadium in Milan. Brazilian striker Adriano ended his 10-match goal drought by scoring the winner for Inter Milan in their narrow 1-0 home victory over Sampdoria. [AFP]

Inter has 62 points in 29 matches. Juventus, which leads the standings with 73 points, hosts AC Milan at Stadio delle Alpi on Sunday.

Adriano, who had already hit the post in the 26th minute, collected the rebound from his own shot that hit the crossbar to score at the San Siro.

The Brazil striker came off a two-match suspension to be Inter's best player in a team containing Luis Figo and Dejan Stankovic.

Adriano, nicknamed the Emperor by Inter fans, has 13 goals this season -- 10 behind the league leading scorer Luca Toni of Fiorentina.

Sampdoria, without injured strikers Emiliano Bonazzoli and Fabio Bazzani, threatened Inter in the first half but faded in the second.

Inter goalkeeper Francesco Toldo made two great saves on long-distance shots from Sampdoria captain Sergio Volpi.

Uruguay international Alvaro Recoba missed an open goal for Inter in the 51st after Sampdoria 'keeper Francesco Antonioli had parried the ball.

It was just Inter's second win in its last six matches. The Milan club plays Ajax on Tuesday in the Champions League to win the right to advance to the quarterfinals against Spain's Villarreal.

Also Saturday, Erjon Bogdani scored with an 87th-minute header and Siena beat last-place Treviso 1-0.

The home win lifted the Tuscan team into the upper half of the table, two points behind Sampdoria.

Forward Enrico Chiesa had his 23-minute penalty kick saved by Treviso goalkeeper Adriano Zancope, while Siena's Tomas Locatelli volleyed against the post four minutes later.

Bogdani, an Albania striker who earned the first-half penalty, scored his eighth goal of the season off a corner kick.

Treviso's winless streak is now at 14 games to leave it with 15 points. Siena has 35 points.

On Sunday, fourth-place Fiorentina is at Cagliari, and AS Roma at Ascoli. Other matches feature Lazio vs. Reggina, Messina vs. Lecce, Palermo vs. Udinese, Empoli vs Chievo Verona and Parma vs. Livorno.