Juventus Tops Reggina to Take Three-Point Serie A Lead
Copyright � 2000 Nando Media
Copyright � 2000 Agence France-Presse
MILAN, Jan 23 (January 23, 2000 11:45 a.m. EST http://www.sportserver.com) - French star Zinedine sent Juventus three points clear at the top of the Serie A on Sunday, scoring a stunning goal as the new title favorites beat Reggina 2-0.
Juventus took full advantage of Lazio's disappointing 0-0 draw at bottom club Cagliari on Saturday night, while champions AC Milan also drew ,and Roberto Baggio inspired Inter Milan to a 2-1 win at Verona.
Yugoslav Darko Kovacevic, making his first league start for Juventus, nodded them into a 35th-minute lead - meeting a corner from the left whipped over by strike partner Alessandro Del Piero.
Kovacevic had already scored 14 goals for the club - but 12 of them had been on cup duty.
Zidane confirmed his superb run of form in the 64th minute, beating three men in the Reggina penalty area before an unleashing an unstoppable shot beneath the crossbar.
Zidane, who cracked home a free-kick last Sunday against Perugia, also helped extend Juventus' unbeaten league run to 14 matches.
They now lead the Serie A with 39 points, ahead of Lazio (36) and AS Roma
(35).
AC Milan came from 2-0 down here to snatch a 2-2 draw from Lecce.
Roberto Baggio, who had a major falling out with coach Marcello Lippi and club officials just a month ago, was Inter's hero on Sunday.
Inter's Uruguayan striker, Alvaro Recoba, hit the post with a 25-meter free-kick, but Verona's Dane Martin Laursen steered the ball home unmarked in the 34th minute after a cross from Domenico Morfeo.
Things may have looked bleak for Inter, but everything changed when Baggio came on for Argentinian Javier Zanetti for the second half.
Baggio started the move that led to the equalizer, crossing into the middle for Vladimir Jugovic, who guided the ball through for Recoba to score.
And the favor was returned in the 73rd minute when Recoba supplied a pass from the left for Baggio to score the winner.
It was sweet revenge for the popular Italian star, who was told by Lippi and his officials to look for another club last month after Baggio complained
at his lack of appearances this season.
Elsewhere, Gionatha Spinesi headed the 83rd minute winner as Bari beat Fiore.
