Football: Ince's dismissal fails to slow Inter

European round-up

European round-up

CATHERINE RILEY

Paul Ince received his first red card in Italy yesterday, but his dismissal could not stop Internazionale winning 2-1 at Udinese. Ince was sent off on the stroke of half-time for an off-the-ball incident, but Inter moved into fourth - their highest placing in Serie A this season - courtesy of goals by Davide Fontolan and Roberto Carlos.

Milan, meanwhile, shook off their shock midweek Uefa Cup defeat and the absence of seven first-choice players to move eight points clear at the top with a 3-0 defeat of Parma.

Milan, beaten 3-0 by Bordeaux on Tuesday, look set to seal their fourth league title in five years, with Fiorentina losing their 15-match unbeaten record in a 1-0 home defeat by Juventus, who move into second place.

Roberto Baggio made amends for an 11th-minute penalty miss by turning home Dejan Savicevic's cross just before the interval. Straight after the break, Roberto Donadoni completed a fine solo run with an unstoppable shot before Savicevic capped a fine individual performance with Milan's third.

Benfica ended Porto's unbeaten 17-month run in the Portuguese League with a 2-1 win at home on Saturday, but Porto retained a commanding lead in the championship. Porto, managed by former England coach Bobby Robson, had not lost in 53 league matches since October 1994. They remain favourites for the league title - with just seven matches left they are 13 points clear.