MILAN, Italy -- Napoli eased to a 2-0 win at Genoa to move provisionally atop of the Serie A, thanks to a double from Goran Pandev on Saturday. AC Milan picked up only its second win of the season, beating struggling Sampdoria 1-0 at San Siro, with Valter Birsa scoring his first goal since signing from Genoa in the off-season. "It was more important to win than my goal," Birsa said. "We had been playing well in matches but we hadnt managed to pick up the points we needed. "Whats important is the work of the squad, individuals can give a hand but all the players are important. We needed the goal to make us more comfortable." In Genoa, Pandev nabbed his first in the 14th, latching onto a poor pass from Juraj Kucka, racing forward and firing into the bottom right corner. Pandev doubled his tally 10 minutes later as Lorenzo Insigne lifted a superb ball into the area for the Macedonia striker to smash across goal into the bottom left corner, with his weaker right foot. Napoli, which lost its perfect record in Wednesdays 1-1 draw at bottom club Sassuolo, moved a point ahead of Roma, which hosts Bologna on Sunday. "We really wanted these three points after the awful night against Sassuolo," Pandev said. "We got over it really well." Coach Rafa Benitez rotated his squad, with key players Gonzalo Higuain, Marek Hamsik and captain Paolo Cannavaro starting on the bench. Genoa has lost four of its opening six games, raising speculation its young coach Fabio Liverani could be the first Serie A manager to be fired this season. It has had only one worst start to the season, 30 years ago. There were signs of improvement in the second half, however, and Genoa almost got one back in the 64th when Alberto Gilardinos header flashed just past the left post. It also had strong claims for a penalty turned down three minutes later when Cannavaro brought down Gilardino in the area, but the Genoa striker was harshly flagged offside much to the displeasure of the home fans. Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri had castigated his team for wasting too many chances after it again needed two late goals to rescue a 3-3 draw at Bologna midweek. Forward Mario Balotelli sat out the second of a three-match ban, while Stephan El Shaarawy, Riccardo Montolivo, Mattia De Sciglio, Kaka, Giampaolo Pazzini and Matias Silvestre are still out injured. Milan had been ordered to keep one end of San Siro -- the Curva Sud -- closed as punishment for discriminatory chants during the loss to Napoli. Fans responded by holding a protest outside the stadium with banners further insulting the Southern city of Naples. There were also more anti-Neopolitan chants inside the stadium and a warning announcement had to be made by stadium officials. Milan could face further punishment. Milans profligacy in front of goal continued against Sampdoria, which had only two points heading into the match. Kevin Constant was close to giving Milan the lead in the 17th minute but he volleyed Robinhos cross just past the left post. Phillipe Mexes was also inches away from connecting with a cross right in front of goal which would have almost certainly put Milan in front. It was Samp which had the best chance of the first half, however, as Andrea Costa headed a corner just the wrong side of the right upright. Milan was booed off the pitch at halftime but broke the deadlock 40 seconds after the restart when Robinho found Birsa for a fine low strike into the bottom right corner. And it should have doubled its advantaged moments later. Birsas effort was parried by Samp goalkeeper Junior da Costa but the ball eventually came to Robinho, who incredibly missed an open goal from a meter out. Forward Alessandro Matri has yet to score since signing from Juventus in the off-season and he had a shot saved by Da Costa when one on one with the Samp goalie. Mbaye Niang should have secured the points in stoppage time with a low, angled drive which Da Costa managed to get a hand to, to deflect just past his right upright. Both Napoli and Milan are in Champions League action next week, against Arsenal and Ajax respectively. Julian Green USA Jersey . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. Jorda... Morris USA Jersey . Cote was eligible to become a free agent Feb. 15. Cote helped running back Jon Cornish run for a league-high 1,813 rushing yards en route to being named the leagues most outstanding player. Mic... Bradley USA Jersey . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. Juan Agudelo Jersey . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf.ERIE, Pa. -- The Erie Otters high-flying offence was no match for the Mississauga Steelheads. Three players had a pair of goals as the Otters crushed Mississauga 9-1 on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. Erie has won eight straight, with the best record in the OHL and second-best offence in the league. Only the Guelph Storm have more goals this season. Brendan Gaunce, Dane Fox and Michael Curtis all scored twice for the Otters (27-4-1), while Jake Evans, Hayden Hodgson and Travis Wood also found the back of the net. Oscar Dansk made 18 saves to earn the win in net for Erie. Bobby MacIntyre was the lone scorer for the Steelheads (13-18-3). Spencer Martin stopped 18 of 27 shots in two periods of work. Dawson Carty turned aside all eight shots he faced in relief. MacIntyres goal came shorthanded, while Gaunces first of the night was a power-play goal. The Otters went 1 for 4 with the man advantage, while Mississauga was 0 for 2. --- SPIRIT 6 WHALERS 2 PLYMOUTH, Mich. -- Luke CCairns had two goals and two assists as Saginaw sank Plymouth 6-2.dddddddddddd Jimmy Lodge scored and added two assists for the Spirit (16-11-5), while Justin Kea, Justin Sefton and Dylan Sadowy chipped in as well. Jake Paterson made 35 saves for the win. Gianluca Curcuruto and Carter Sandlak supplied the offence for the Whalers (11-18-3). Alex Nedeljkovic stopped seven of 10 shots in the first period before being pulled in favour of Zack Bowman. Bowman made 25 saves on 28 shots. --- BATTALION 4 GREYHOUNDS 3 SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. -- Barclay Goodrow scored twice -- including a short-handed goal -- as North Bay edged the Greyhounds. Jamie Lewis also had a short-handed goal for the Battalion (16-15-1), while Alex Henriksson scored at even strength. Brendan ONeill turned aside 25 of 28 shots in 49:36 of work. Jake Smith made three saves in relief. 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