Juventus Win 2-1 at Inter to Pull Clear
ROME, April 16 (Reuters)(DS) - Yugoslav Darko Kovacevic scored twice as Juventus won 2-1 at Inter Milan on Sunday to extend their lead in the Italian first division to five points.
Kovacevic, whose 88th minute goal had paved the way for
Juve's dramatic victory by the same scoreline at Bologna last Sunday, latched on to a square pass from striking partner Filippo Inzahgi in the 55th minute and chipped the ball over the onrushing Angelo Peruzzi in the Inter goal. He added his second 11 minutes from time, using his height and strength to rise above Peruzzi and plant a firm header into the back of the net.
Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf cut Juve's lead with a
sweet right foot shot in the 83rd minute and pulled up his playing shirt to reveal a T-shirt bearing a picture of Ronaldo with the words "Don't give up" written on it.
The Brazilian former world footballer of the year tore a
tendon in his comeback match for Inter in midweek and will be out of action for around eight months.
Juve's win lifted them on to 65 points, five clear of Lazio who were held to a thrilling 3-3 draw by Fiorentina on Saturday.
Parma move in to third after recording their sixth win in seven matches -- a 3-1 home defeat of relegation threatened Venezia -- while champions AC Milan were held 2-2 at Torino and slip to fourth.
AS Roma ended their five-match run without a victory by
beating Bologna 2-0 thanks to two penalty kicks and climb to fifth, a point ahead of Inter, who have now gone seven matches in league and cup without a win.
At the bottom, Cagliari and Piacenza were both relegated. Cagliari slumped to a 1-0 home defeat against Reggina, who have climbed to ninth in this, their first season in the top flight. The Calabrian club are now only three point behind Fiorentina in the push for UEFA Cup berths.
Piacenza had 41-year-old former Italy defender Pietro
Vierchowod sent off for dissent in the first half of their match at Perugia and lost 2-0. They slide out of Serie A after five years while Cagliari return to Serie B after two seasons.
CRESPO MAKES HISTORY
Argentine striker Hernan Crespo wrote his name in the record books by becoming the highest scorer in Parma's 87-year history.
His 20th and 21st goals of the league campaign took his
tally in his four seasons at the side to 79 -- one more than William Bronzoni, who set his record soon after World War Two when Parma were still in the lower reaches of the league.
"This was definitely one of my objectives, as was getting my place back in the starting line-up in the national side," Crespo said when asked about his feat.
Parma had won five of their six matches and were expected to steamroller Venezia but Croatian forward Igor Budan gave the visitors the lead against the run of play.
Crespo then equalised in the 32nd minute and broke
Bronzoni's record with a spectacular overhead kick.
His striking partner Marco Di Vaio completed the victory
with the simplest of tap-ins on the goalline in injury time.
Roma striker Vincenzo Montella took his league tally to 17 with a 26th minute penalty and also won Roma's second spot kick when he was adjudged to have been pulled down in the box by Bologna defender Massimo Paganin.
Television replays suggested the decision was harsh and the foul was committed outside the area. Roma captain Francesco Totti stepped up to convert the kick to seal Roma's first win since March 5.
