Football: Eto`o leads Inter win over Palermo

Rome: Samuel Eto`o scored twice and five-time defending champion Inter Milan rallied to beat Palermo 2-1 and return to the top of the Serie A table.

Slovenia midfielder Josip Ilicic had put Palermo in front after 28 minutes in the Sicilian capital before Eto`o struck back in the 62nd and 70th yesterday. With seven points, Inter shares the Italian league lead with newly promoted Cesena, which beat Lecce 1-0 despite having to play with 10 men due to a referee`s error. Juventus won its first match in impressive form, beating last-place Udinese 4-0 with goals from Leonardo Bonucci, Fabio Quagliarella, Claudio Marchisio and Vincenzo Iaquinta. Meanwhile, AS Roma remained winless after allowing two late scores from Marco Di Vaio in a 2-2 draw with Bologna. Also, Chievo Verona`s perfect start was snapped with a 1-0 loss to Brescia, with Alessandro Diamanti - who played for West Ham in the English Premier League last season – scoring from a free kick in the 30th. Luca Toni converted a penalty for his first goal since joining Genoa but Cristian Zaccardo scored a second-half equalizer for a 1-1 draw at Parma.In the new lunchtime fixture, Bari and Cagliari drew 0-0. On Saturday, Filippo Inzaghi scored the equalizer as AC Milan drew 1-1 with Catania and Lazio beat Fiorentina 2-1. Sampdoria was playing Napoli later in the final match of the weekend. In Palermo, Ilicic converted a rebound to give the hosts the lead after Inter`s Dejan Stankovic smashed a long shot off the crossbar. Palermo had a chance to double its lead in the 50th but Julio Cesar saved an effort from Ilicic`s fellow Slovenian Armin Bacinovic.Inter`s struggling striker Diego Milito missed a great opportunity in the 59th and then Eto`o equalized three minutes later, dribbling by a defender and slotting in an angled shot. In an action-filled match, Palermo`s Argentine forward Javier Pastore slipped behind Inter`s defense in the 66th but couldn`t find the target and Eto`o then scored again after trading passes with Stankovic. PTI