ROME (AFP) - Filippo Inzaghi pounced to head home an injury-time winner as AC Milan beat Palermo 2-1 at the San Siro to move up to fourth in Serie A on Sunday.

The European champions came into the match on the back of three successive draws but substitute 'Superpippo' stooped to head home French midfielder Yoann Gourcuff's cross after he was left alone six yards out by Palermo's sleepy defence.

Earlier, Hernan Crespo preserved Inter Milan's unbeaten record by scoring a header 19 minutes from time to salvage a 1-1 draw for the leaders at Sampdoria.

Inter's lead at the top of the table was cut to nine points, though, as AS Roma snatched a 1-0 victory over Fiorentina at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.

Milan are now above fifth-placed Fiorentina on goal difference but they were given a helping hand by the Sicilians' lack of defensive concentration.

Inzaghi, who has played little this season, was delighted to have proved the match-winner.

"Everyone knows what this shirt means to me," he said. "It's been a great night, I'm very happy because I haven't played or scored much in the league. It's great to win this way."

Palermo took a ninth minute lead in bizarre fashion as Milan's centre-backs missed a long ball into the box and Australian midfielder Mark Bresciano flicked out a leg to steer the ball around Massimo Oddo and past his international team-mate Zeljko Kalac in the Milan goal.

Palermo were worthy of their lead until they were caught napping at the back on 24 minutes, allowing Massimo Ambrosini to bundle home an Oddo cross from barely three yards out after arriving late and at pace into the box.

Former Roma striker Antonio Cassano looked like he would inflict the first defeat of the season on the champions as he gave Sampdoria a 65th minute lead, latching onto a Paolo Sammarco chip into the box and taking a touch before thrashing the ball high to Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar's left on 65 minutes.

But Inter hit back 11 minutes later as Argentine striker Crespo, enjoying a rare start, stole in front of his marker to head home a cross from Serbian Dejan Stankovic.

Inter have lost only once in 64 league matches, a 3-1 home defeat to Roma last April.

Their coach Roberto Mancini admitted things were starting to look a little less plain sailing following the midweek 2-0 Champions League defeat at Liverpool.

"The championship race is on again," he said. "We know it's a delicate time for us.

"It's true that we have some troubles but we're still unbeaten. The championship race can be opened up again but we're still nine points ahead.

"So honestly, we're not too worried."

In Rome, Fiorentina's Romania forward Adrian Mutu should have given the visitors the lead on 13 minutes but completely missed his kick from six yards out.

He had another great chance to open scoring on 40 minutes when played through by a fine ball from Martin Jorgensen but he tried to round Brazilian goalkeeper Doni, who dived at his feet and claimed the ball.

But nine minutes after the break, the hosts were in front. A Mirko Vucinic shot trickled through to Brazilian Cicinho who fired home from close range.

Fiorentina went straight up the other end and almost equalised but Zdravko Kuzmanovic saw his shot clip the bar and sail over.

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti was not getting carried away by closing the gap to Inter.

"We've had a great season so far and if Inter are nine points ahead it's because they've had an almost perfect season," he said.

"Even so, nine points still seems like a lot to me."

Udinese's Champions League hopes were hit by a 5-3 home defeat by Genoa as hot-shot Marco Borriello scored a second-half hat-trick for the visitors while Siena moved out of the relegation zone after a 2-2 draw at Atalanta.

On Saturday, Nicola Amoruso converted a controversial last minute penalty against his former team as Reggina beat Juventus 2-1 to dent the Old Lady of Turin's chances of snatching second place and an automatic place in next season's Champions League group stage.