Juventus Fattens League Lead
Copyright � 2000 Nando Media
Copyright � 2000 Agence France-Presse
MILAN (March 19, 2000 12:10 p.m. EST http://www.sportserver.com) - Juventus became the runaway favorite for the Italian league title on Sunday after it opened up a nine-point lead by beating Torino 3-2 as rival Lazio was upset 1-0 at Verona.
The derby victory in Turin - sealed with two own-goals and a penalty - leaves Juventus with just eight matches to survive before cramming a 26th league title into the club's trophy room.
Juventus took the lead in the 23rd minute, when Alessandro Del Piero led a rapid breakaway. Torino midfielder Massimo Brambilla tried to block Juventus' Alessio Tacchinardi, but succeeded only in putting the ball past his own keeper.
Juventus, which hadn't faced a single penalty all season, conceded two in one
match on Sunday.
Torino leveled in the 34th minute after a foul by defender Mark Iuliano on Torino center-forward Marco Ferrante. Ferrante took the penalty himself, steering home his 13th goal of the season.
And it stayed that way until midway through the second half, when two goals in the space of five minutes decided the match.
An own-goal by Gigi Lentini in the 67th minute restored Juventus' lead, and Del Piero converted a penalty in the 72nd after Juventus midfielder Gianluca Zambrotta was brought down by Torino defender Roberto Maltagliati.
Ferrante steered home another penalty two minutes from the end, but it was too late to save his side.
Lazio was left to rue a defeat that came at the wrong time of the season.
Verona playmaker Domenico Morfeo, on loan from AC Milan, scored the match-winner in the 29th minute.
AC Milan missed a penalty as it was beaten 1-0 at Venezia on a day of upsets for the big clubs.
Filippo Maniero, who joined Venezia from the Italian champion, scored against his old club in the 11th minute - volleying home a cross from ex-Milan striker Maurizio Ganz.
Milan's Brazilian forward Leonardo had the chance to level, but saw his 62nd minute spot-kick saved by Venezia goalkeeper Fabrizio Casazza.
AS Roma joined the top clubs on the day's scrap heap, losing 2-0 to Reggina in front of the home fans at the Olympic stadium.
Roma was trailing on a 28th-minute goal from Francesco Cozza before Bruno Cirillo put the result beyond doubt with three minutes to go.
Argentina's Hernan Crespo converted a 63rd-minute penalty for Parma and Arturo Di Napoli missed one for Piacenza, as their match finished 1-0.
Striker Nicola Amoruso scored twice in the first half and then got himself sent off for retaliation at the start of the second as Perugia beat Bari 2-0.
Udinese defeated Lecce 2-1, thanks to a late winner from Brazilian Warley.
Udinese opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when Argentinian Roberto Sosa collected a pass from midfielder Stefano Fiore, but Swiss striker David Sesa equalized for the southern club in the 36th.
Warley scored the winner with six minutes to go.
