Del Piero Penalty Keeps Juventus In Title Race
MILAN, April 8 (Reuters)(DS) - Juventus returned to their winning ways after
an Alessandro Del Piero penalty gave them a 1-0 win at Verona in Serie A on
Sunday. The win moved second-placed Juve six points behind leaders AS Roma,
who face Fiorentina on Monday.
Atalanta boosted their hopes of claiming a Champions League slot for next
season with a 2-0 win at Lecce, wich leaves them level on points with
fourth-placed Parma.
But AC and Inter Milan's hopes of playing in Europe's premier club
competition suffered blows as Milan were held to a 0-0 draw by 10-man Napoli
and Inter needed a last-minute equaliser from Alvaro Recoba to scrape a 1-1
draw at home to lowly Vicenza.
At the foot of the table Brescia moved out of the relegation zone after
Roberto Baggio inspired them to a 4-0 victory over fellow-strugglers
Reggina.
Juve, without 'flu-hit French midfielder Zinedine Zidane, struggled to break
down Verona throughout the first half but grabbed the winner on the stroke
of halftime.
Filippo Inzaghi raced on to a long clearance from Juve 'keeper Edwin Van der
Sar and was pushed over by Verona defender Luigi Apolloni.
Del Piero, playing in an unfamiliar midfield role, coolly slotted home the
penalty, while Verona had Apolloni sent off in the 69th minute off for a
second bookable offence -- another foul on Inzaghi.
ANCELOTTI DELIGHTED
After a defeat to Lazio and home draw with Brescia in their last two games
Juventus coach Carlo Ancelotti was delighted to secure the three points.
"We wanted this win badly and we gave everything for this victory," said
Ancelotti. "We still believe in this championship and coming after two
negative results this was a very important win for us".
Atalanta's fourth win in a row came thanks to second-half goals from Nicola
Ventola and Domenico Morfeo at Lecce. Giovanni Vavassori's side are now
level on 40 points with Parma, whose game against Lazio on Saturday was
postponed.
Atalanta now face Parma on Saturday in a game which could go a long way to
determining whether the Bergamo side are to enter the Champions League for
the first time in their history. Inter's mini-revival ended with a poor
performance against improving Vicenza.
Sierra Leone striker Mohammed Kallon, on a one season loan from Inter put
Vicenza ahead in the 30th minute -- slotting home from close range after a
neat lay-off from Luca Toni.
Recoba denied Vicenza a famous win by striking in the final seconds with a
low free-kick which deflected in off the wall.
AC Milan had their chances to pick up full points in Naples after Napoli
defender Salvatore Fresi was sent off in the 42nd minute for felling a
goal-bound Andriy Shevchenko.
BAGGIO'S FORM
Baggio confirmed his return to form, setting up Antonio Filippini for the
opener in the 33rd minute and then providing the cross or Fabio Petruzzi's
48th minute diving header.
Reggina had defender Massimo Marazzina sent off in the 68th minute and five
minutes later Baggio made it 3-0 with a 73rd minute penalty after Aimo Diana
was brought down by Reggina 'keeper Massimo Taibi.
Albanian Igli Tare added Brescia's fourth with an injury-time header.
Bologna fought back from 2-1 down to beat Perugia 3-2, with former Perugia
midfielder Renato Olive grabbing the winner in the 77th minute.
Bari remain rooted to the bottom of the table after a 2-0 defeat at Udinese.
