Ten-Man Juventus Go Top of Serie A
Copyright � 2000 Nando Media
Copyright � 2000 Agence France-Presse
ROME, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Juventus played the whole of the second half of their match against Lecce with 10 men but still won 1-0 to reclaim top spot in the Italian first division on Sunday.
Zinedine Zidane gave the Turin side their point with a low, firmly struck freekick in the 26th minute which bounced awkwardly for goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti. It was the French playmaker's fourth goal since the New Year and reconfirmed his return to form after an indifferent 1999.
Juve then had midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi sent off in the 44th minute for protesting a booking but successfully defended their lead to exact revenge for their 2-0 loss at Lecce in September -- their only league defeat this season.
Carlo Ancelotti's side move on to 44 points, two clear of Lazio who will retake the lead if they beat sixth-placed Parma at the Olympic stadium later on Sunday. Champions AC Milan are a further point back in third, two ahead of Roma, who had captain Francesco Totti sent off for dissent after just 20 minutes and then threw away a 2-0 goal lead to draw 2-2 at Perugia.
Totti was dismissed by referee Gennaro Borriello for claiming a Perugia defensive wall was not 10 metres from the ball as he prepared to take a freekick. Four minutes later his side went ahead, Japanese midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata scoring his first goal for Roma against his former club.
MONTELLA PENALTY
Roma increased their lead just before the interval when Vincenzo Montella slotted home a penalty kick after striking partner Marco Delvecchio had been tripped in the area. But Roma fell to pieces in the second half. Perugia midfielder Renato Olive pulled a goal back in the 54th minute and added his second in the 82nd to wipe out the visitors' lead and earn his side a valuable point. Roma coach Fabio Capello was dismissed from the bench for complaining about the decision to award Perugia the corner kick from which they scored their equaliser.
Inter Milan also struggled and needed a 31st minute equaliser from a revitalised Christian Vieri to salvage a 1-1 draw at the San Siro against Vieri's former club Torino. Uruguayan defender Gustavo Mendez gave Torino the lead in the 20th minute before Vieri headed home an Alvaro Recoba cross for his third goal in four days and his 11th league strike of
the campaign.
Fiorentina were trailing 1-0 at home to Udinese thanks to a headed goal from Denmark midfielder Martin Joergensen after 62 minutes of a finely balanced clash in Florence. But Argentine Gabriel Batistuta came to Fiorentina's rescue in the 71st minute, finding the net for the third consecutive weekend to take his season's tally to 15.
Venezia hammered Cagliari 3-0 but remain in the relegation zone, four points ahead of bottom-club Piacenza, held 0-0 at home by fellow strugglers Reggina.
