Catania beats 10 man Inter Milan 3-1

Mar 12, 2010 - 10:29 PM By JEREMY INSON Associated Press Writer

MILAN(AP) -- Relegation-threatened Catania shocked league leader Inter Milan with a come-from-behind win at home after Inter substitute Sulley Muntari gave away a penalty and was sent-off just two minutes after coming on.

Inter opened the scoring shortly after halftime when Diego Milito finished a flowing move involving Wesley Sneijder and Samuel Eto'o. Sneijder released the Cameroonian behind the Catania defense and he squared for Milito to shoot home.

However, his fellow Argentine Maxi Lopez equalized in the 74th, sweeping home Pablo Alvarez's cross at the near post. Inter was reduced to 10 men when midfielder Muntari, who had replaced Esteban Cambiasso, was sent off for handball and Catania captain Giuseppe Mascara scored from the resulting penalty.

It was the Ghanaian's second yellow card and came after he handled a freekick from Mascara.

Catania then made it three when Jorge Martinez cut in from the left, beat Lucio and rounded Cesar to score.

Inter remains top with 59 points, four ahead of AC Milan, which plays Chievo Verona on Sunday.

For Catania the win is an unexpected boost as it attempts to avoid relegation and the Sicilian side is now eight points above the relegation zone.

"It's a great feeling this win," Martinez said. "Inter scored but somehow we found the spirit to recover and score three goals. We have a special spirit, we have some excellent players and we always felt we could win this game."

"Inter is the best team in the league but with the effort we put in tonight we were able to cause their players problems," Martinez added.