Juventus Defeat Gives Hope to Chasing Lazio
MILAN, March 24 (Reuters) - Two goals from Ukrainian Andriy Shevchenko gave AC Milan a 2-0 win over Juventus in Italy's Serie A on Friday, ending the league leaders' 22-game unbeaten run and giving hope to title challengers Lazio.
Juventus remain nine points clear but their lead could be cut to six points if second-placed Lazio beat AS Roma in Saturday's derby. Lazio then face Juventus in Turin on April 2, the next in a series of tough games for Carlo Ancelotti's side and one that will go a long way to determining the outcome of the Serie A title.
This clash between the two clubs who have kept the title between them for the past eight seasons was not a classic but Milan showed they still have the strength of character to secure a Champions League berth for next season.
Heavy rain before the match made for a greasy surface and neither side were able to take control in a scrappy opening period. Juve could have taken the lead in the 21st minute when Filippo Inzaghi intercepted an underhit back-pass from Paolo Maldini and rounded Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati but shot wide.
On the stroke of halftime Milan went ahead when Thomas Helveg whipped in a cross from the right and Shevchenko rose above Edwin Van der Sar to head home. Milan almost added a second goal straight after the break but Jose Mari's header flashed just wide of the post.
Juventus went close at the other end when Zinedine Zidane set up Inzaghi but the Italy striker saw his shot fly wide. Juve piled on the pressure and added Yugoslav Darko
Kovacevic to their attack as they desperately sought an equaliser but the nearest they came was a long-range effort from Edgar Davids which whistled over the bar.
With six minutes remaining Shevchenko was judged to have been brought down inside the area by Alessandro Birindelli and, despite protests from Juve players, the Ukrainian kept his cool to slot home his 21st goal of the season, from the spot. Shevchenko, the leading scorer in Serie A in his debut season, was keen to play down his night of glory.
"The important thing is that this was a very important win for us both in terms of the league table and our morale. Now we have to go forward from here," he said. Milan coach Alberto Zaccheroni was delighted that his side had ended their run of four games without a win, "We showed we have character, determination and passion. It was a close game
with not many chances but we took those that came our way".
But Ancelotti felt his side had deserved a point. "It was a very evenly balanced game. I think overall we could have had a draw out of this match. But there is no need for us to get depressed, we are still nine points clear and we played well tonight."
