UPDATE 1-Soccer-Inter boost Champions League hopes with win at Frosinone

Inter Milan recorded a 3-1 win away at relegation battling Frosinone on Sunday to strengthen their grip on third place in Serie A. Luciano Spalletti's side were under pressure to deliver a result in order to avoid being dragged into a tight race for Champions League qualification, after AS Roma and AC Milan won on Saturday.

A header from Radja Nainggolan and an Ivan Perisic penalty in the first half put Inter in control before Francesco Cassata pulled one back for Frosinone as they improved after the break. However, Matias Vecino's stoppage-time strike sealed a win that keeps the visitors five points clear of Milan in fourth place with six rounds remaining in the league season.

Inter have 60 points, giving them breathing space from a tight-knit chasing pack of Milan (55), Roma (54), Atalanta (52), Torino (50) and Lazio (49). Atalanta and Lazio both have a game in hand. Frosinone went into the game buoyed by recent wins over Parma and Fiorentina, the first time the club had ever achieved back-to-back victories in the top flight.

However, the second-bottom side's hopes of producing an upset were soon dealt a blow when Nainggolan rose unopposed to head in a Danilo D'Ambrosio cross. The visitors doubled their lead shortly before halftime when Raman Chibsah hauled down Milan Skriniar in the area to concede a penalty, which Perisic dispatched in composed fashion.

Frosinone were back in contention with just over an hour played when Cassata's low strike from the edge of the box beat Samir Handanovic, despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to the shot. Inter striker Mauro Icardi headed over a great opportunity from six yards out, but Vecino put the result beyond doubt when he finished off a counter attack with a drilled shot in stoppage time.

Frosinone remain in 19th place with 23 points and are two places and eight points adrift off 17th place, currently occupied by Bologna. (Reporting by Alasdair Mackenzie Editing by Christian Radnedge)