Icardi hat-trick downs AC Milan

3-2 win helps Nerazzuri keep pace with Napoli

MILAN: Mauro Icardi scored a hat-trick as Inter Milan kept pace with leaders Napoli with a 3-2 defeat of city rivals AC Milan in a fiery Serie A derby clash on Sunday.

Inter skipper Icardi sealed victory from the spot in the final minute in front of 80,000 spectators at the San Siro to complete his hat-trick after also scoring on 28 and 63 minutes.

Spanish forward Suso (36) and Giacomo Bonaventura (81) had twice put AC Milan back on level terms in the 'Chinese' derby between two clubs fuelled by multi-million dollar investments by their Asian owners.

With Juventus losing 1-0 to Roma on Saturday, Luciano Spalletti's Inter are now alone in second place, within two points of Napoli who they face next weekend.

"It's too early to talk about a Scudetto challenge," said Icardi after the game. "We are doing things the right way from pre-season and now we have to think about the next match against a great opponent like Napoli. It's a special match for me, because they are the leaders and play the best football in Europe."

In a tense first half in the Derby della Madonnina the first chance came after 13 minutes when Antonio Candreva hit the crossbar from the edge of the box.

Both Suso and a Joao Miranda header went wide, but Inter took the lead with Icardi picking up a Candreva cross after 28 minutes.

Patrick Cutrone came on after the break and lifted Milan who got back into the game thanks to a beautiful curling Suso effort.

But Icardi restored Inter's advantage from an Ivan Perisic cross before Bonaventura slid in to make it 2-2 with Samir Handanovic unable to clear.

Ricardo Rodriguez brought down Danilo D'Ambrosio and Icardi converted the penalty.