Juve Throw Away Three Goal Lead
MILAN, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Marcelo Salas missed an 89th minute penalty as Juventus let a three-goal lead slip to draw 3-3 in a dramatic derby against Torino on Sunday.
Juve were 3-0 up at the break thanks to two goals from Alessandro Del Piero and an Igor Tudor strike but then struggling Torino mounted a magnificent comeback.
Goals from Cristiano Lucarelli, Marco Ferrante and then, eight minutes from the end, Riccardo Maspero pulled Torino level but then Juve were awarded a controversial penalty a minute from the end.
But Chilean striker Salas blasted the ball high over the bar to make it three straight games without a win for Marcello Lippi's side.
AC Milan were also held to a surprise draw at home to bottom-club Venezia - former Milan striker Filippo Maniero cancelled out Andriy Shevchenko's opener for Milan.
Chievo go level on points with leaders Inter, for a few hours at least, after they drew 2-2 at Brescia, while Parma could only manage a 2-2 draw at home to Piacenza and troubled Fiorentina crashed to a 4-1 loss at Lecce.
Inter face Udinese later on Sunday.
The Turin derby has been a one-sided affair in recent years and looked set to follow that familiar pattern after Juve dominated the first half.
Juve took the lead in the 10th minute when Cristian Zenoni fed Del Piero who fired home with a well-placed right-foot shot.
Just two minutes later Tudor doubled the lead, slotting home from close range after the Torino defence had failed to clear a Pavel Nedved free-kick from the left.
Nedved had a hand in Juve's third as he burst down the left flank before picking out Del Piero at the back-post who made no mistake from close-range.
Juve were given a reminder that Torino intended to fight on when Lucarelli scored 12 minutes after the restart with a fine left foot finish.
In the 70th minute Torino pulled another back when Antonino Asta was brought down inside the penalty area by Lilian Thuram and Marco Ferrante converted the spot-kick.
Then with eight minutes remaining the fightback was complete when Ferrante's firm header was parried out by Juve 'keeper Gianluigi Buffon and Riccardo Maspero tapped home the rebound.
But the drama was not over as Juve were given a chance to sneak the three points at the end after Tudor was judged to have been pulled down inside the area.
Torino players fiercely protested the decision but their anger turned to relief and celebration when Salas fired over the bar.
Bottom club Venezia travelled to Milan without a point to their name this season but new coach Sergio Buso will have been boosted by a battling display as they fought back for a draw at the San Siro.
Milan took the lead a minute before the break thanks to a superb strike from Shevchenko who brought down a corner from Rui Costa and in the same swift movement thundered the ball into the top corner.
But Milan paid the price for failing to turn possession into goals in the 61st minute when Maniero headed home a cross from Ivone De Franceschi.
Former Italy striker Roberto Baggio was again influential for Brescia, with his 62nd minute penalty cancelling out Massimo Marazzina's opener for Chievo.
Chievo looked to have pulled off another impressive win when Federio Cossato restored their lead in the 77th minute but then eight minutes from the end Baggio set up Andrea Sussi for Brescia's equaliser.
Two goals from veteran striker Dario Hubner gave Piacenza a surprise lead at Parma but French defender Martin Djetou grabbed an equaliser nine minutes from time.
Croat Davor Vugrinec scored twice for Lecce in their 4-1 hammering of cash-strapped Fiorentina.
Fiorentina goalkeeper Giuseppe Taglialatella was sent off in 65th minute and then midfielder Domenico Morfeo got his marching orders seven minutes from time.
