ROME: Mauri Icardi passed two century marks in style, scoring four goals in Inter Milan’s 5-0 win at Sampdoria in Serie A on Sunday.

Ending the day with 103 goals in his Italian league career, the 25-year-old Icardi became the sixth-youngest player in Serie A history to score 100 or more.

The players ahead of Icardi on the list are: Giuseppe Meazza, Silvio Piola, Giampiero Boniperti, Felice Borel and Jose Altafini all legendary footballers.

Icardi also reached an even 100 goals for his Inter Milan career across 172 appearances in all competitions.

What’s more is that the performance came against Icardi’s former squad, which always seems to bring the best out in him, such as his brace in Inter’s 3-2 win in October.

“I’m happy to reach this milestone but I didn’t expect it. I thought I could score one or two at the most but not four,” Icardi said.

“I scored my first Serie A goal in this stadium... Clearly it was in my destiny to reach 103 at Marassi.” Ivan Perisic put Inter ahead with a lobbed header 26 minutes in for his first goal since early December before Icardi took over.

Three minutes later, Icardi converted a penalty following a foul on Rafinha to reach the century mark.

The Argentina striker then fooled goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano and defender Gian Marco Ferrari with a splendid backheel goal.

Icardi completed a hat-trick by knocking in a rebound of a shot from Rafinha then scored with a high bouncing shot shortly after the break.

Inter moved into fourth place, two points ahead of Lazio, who were hosting Bologna later.

Also later, Napoli can move within two points of leaders Juventus — who were surprisingly held to a draw at their visit to SPAL — with a win over visiting Genoa.

“We needed a match like this after a game full of sacrifice against Napoli,” Icardi said, referring to a 0-0 draw with Napoli last weekend.

“Today we needed to be like Napoli and we had the right approach from the first minute and the result shows that.”

AC Milan stretched their unbeaten run to 10 matches with a 3-2 comeback win over Chievo Verona courtesy of Andre Silva’s late winner.

Silva scored his second of the season when a corner bounced off Chievo defender Pawel Jaroszynski and into his path for an easy goal from close range.

Hakan Calhanoglu was left unmarked by the far post to give Milan an early lead but Emanuele Giaccherini set up Mariusz Stepinski’s equalizer then Roberto Inglese put Chievo ahead with a spectacular blast into the top right corner.

Patrick Cutrone equalised for Milan by turning in a rebound of a shot from Lucas Biglia.

Milan was also awarded a penalty after Silva’s goal but Franck Kessie’s spot kick was stopped by Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino.

Up next for the Rossoneri after the international break: a visit to Juventus followed by the Milan derby.

In other matches, third-place Roma won 2-0 at Crotone with goals from Stephan El Shaarawy and Radja Nainggolan either side of halftime.

A 2-1 victory at Torino for Fiorentina made it two wins in two matches for the Tuscan club since the sudden death of club captain Davide Astori. Fiorentina forward Cyril Thereau pointed his fingers to the sky in honor of Astori after converting a decisive penalty kick in stoppage time.

Jordan Veretout had scored Fiorentina’s opener before a late equaliser from Andrea Belotti.

Meanwhile, Josip Ilicic had a hat trick and Bryan Cristante and Alejandro “Papu Gomez also scored as Atalanta routed Hellas Verona 5-0.

Also, Cagliari won 2-1 at Benevento thanks to a stoppage-time penalty from Nicolo Barella.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2018