‘Klose’ the gap on leaders Milan last-gasp strike sinks Lecce

Miroslav Klose scored three minutes from time to earn Lazio a crucial 3-2 win at rock-bottom Lecce on Saturday and move the Roman club up to second in Serie A. Later Inter Milan climbed clear of the relegation zone with a 2-0 win over Fiorentina, who were showing some early festive generosity.Mistakes from Cesare Natali and Manuael Pasqual handed Inter a pair of gift goals for Giampaolo Pazzini and Japan full-back Yuto Nagatomo. At Lecce, Klose scored a brace and provided the pass for Lorik Cana to add Lazio’s other goal while David Di Michele and Stefano Ferrario netted for the hosts. Klose’s brace took him to eight league goals this season and brought him level with AC Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic in third in the scoring charts.Lazio could yet lose second place later in the weekend if either AC Milan draw or Udinese win but this result ensured the capital-based club will remain amongst the front-runners.Lazio coach Edy Reja paid tribute to his German forward but admitted his side had been fortunate to win.“We know Klose’s strength and if you leave him alone for a moment in the area he’s unforgiving,” Reja told SkySport.“Today I can say without a problem that we struggled and we were kissed by luck, Lecce deserved at least a draw.”Lecce may have come into the game bottom of the table but they showed no hint of an inferiority complex. From the start they were on top and they earned a penalty after Di Michele beat the offside trap and was brought down by Federico Marchetti’s rash dash from his line. The former West Ham striker dusted himself down and dispatched the spot-kick.Marchetti may have been at fault in giving away the penalty but he redeemed himself to a certain degree with a pair of fine saves from Luis Murial and Di Michele.Then, out of nothing, the visitors equalised as Mobido Diakite climbed highest to win a header and Klose turned sharply to guide the ball home from close range. Yet still it was Lecce who threatened as Murial cut inside a defender but then shot wastefully wide of the near post from 12 yards.