Ten-Man Juve Beat Roma 2-1 to Pull Clear
ROME, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Juventus had defender Paolo Montero sent off in the first half but still fought back to beat AS Roma 2-1 on Sunday to extend their lead at the top of the Italian first division to four points.
The score stood at 1-1 when Montero was dismissed in the 40th minute for using his hand to control a pass which would have put Roma captain Francesco Totti clean through on goal.
Juve then survived a torrid period before halftime when first Japan's Hidetoshi Nakata and then Brazilian defender Aldair came within a hair's breadth of putting Roma in front.
But Carlo Ancelotti's side collected themselves during the interval and grabbed their winner with their first attack of the second half, Filippo Inzaghi stabbing the ball home from point blank range after Roma goalkeeper Francesco Antonioli had misjudged a cross from Alessandro Birindelli.
Juventus had opened the scoring in the 31st minute through Dutchman Edgar Davids, who hammered home a low volley from the edge of the box after Brazil's defender Cafu had twice failed to clear the ball from the danger area. Marco Delvecchio pulled Roma level seven minutes later with a brilliant volley on the turn but although the visitors created
a number of clear chances they could not break down a Juventus defence which has conceded only 11 league goals this season.
Juve's victory extended their unbeaten run in the league to 19 matches and gave them 50 points, four more than nearest rivals Lazio who beat Udinese 2-1 on Saturday. No side has enjoyed a bigger gap at the top this season. Juve, who resume their UEFA Cup campaign against Spain's Celta Vigo next week, are starting to look like true favourites
for their 26th league title.
Champions AC Milan, held 0-0 at relegation-threatened Cagliari earlier, are in third place, a point behind Lazio. Inter Milan's 3-0 win at home to Venezia lifted them in to fourth on 43 points while Roma's defeat left them fifth on 42.
MILAN FIZZLE OUT
A victory in Sardinia would have carried Milan level on points with Juventus ahead of the big match in Turin. But after a bright opening 25 minutes against Cagliari, Milan's attacking threat fizzled out and Alberto Zaccheroni's side were fortunate to escape with a point.
Milan failed to produce a single shot on goal in the second half while Cagliari, motivated by the midfield pairing of Uruguayan Fabian O'Neill and Tiziano De Patre, created 10 clear chances over the 90 minutes. "Cagliari were undoubtedly better than we were," Zaccheroni admitted.
"I'd said before the match I was worried because I hadn't seen so many of our players properly during the week (before of international commitments) and that's how it turned out." "But let's not take anything away from Cagliari. They deserved to win the match."
Inter, now unbeaten in seven successive matches, initially struggled to break down the Venetians but took the lead in the 41st minute courtesy of Christian Vieri's 13th strike of the season -- a sweet, low, left foot half-volley from 25 metres. Chilean substitute Ivan Zamorano added Inter's second in the 52nd minute after excellent approach work from Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf and Uruguay's Alvaro Recoba. Recoba completed the win with a goal seven minutes from time to ensure Marcello Lippi's side remain in the title hunt. The only sour note for Lippi was an injury to Vieri, who limped off in the second half after apparently pulling a right thigh muscle.
