Zidane Hero and Villain in Juventus Victory
Copyright � 1999 Nando Media
Copyright � 1999 Agence France-Presse
By Chris Endean
ROME, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Zinedine Zidane scored with a superb freekick before being sent off in the last minute as Juventus won 1-0 at AS Roma on Sunday for their first victory at
the Olympic stadium in eight years.
The result lifts Juventus ahead of Roma into third place in Serie A, behind Inter Milan on goal difference and just one point adrift of league leaders Lazio. Zidane's 51st minute goal and some superb goalkeeping from Dutch goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar cost Roma their unbeaten record and the chance to draw level with first division leaders Lazio, who defeated Udinese 3-0 on Saturday.
Earlier, Inter Milan also spurned an opportunity to go top after losing, for the first time this season, to Filippo Maniero's second half winner at Venezia.
AC Milan also struggled. They needed a 78th minute goal from German Oliver Bierhoff to salvage a 2-2 home draw with Cagliari and save a 13-month unbeaten record at the San Siro.
Andrea Silenzi scored his first serie A goal in four years as Torino won 3-1 at home to Bari.
Lecce recovered from conceding an early Roberto Baronio penalty to win their southern derby with Reggina 2-1.
Without the suspended Francesco Totti and the injured Marco Delvecchio, Roma's best efforts in the first-half came from Vincent Candela freekicks. First, the French defender hit the post with an inswinging cross, then Van Der Sar kept out a similar effort with a fingertip save. In reply, Mark Iuliano hit the bar after Alessandro Del Piero's overhead kick.
But in the 51st minute, Aldair conceded a freekick on the edge of the area and Zidane stepped up to curl the ball over the wall and into the top corner for his first goal this season.
The home side pushed hard for an equaliser, but Van Der Sar saved brilliantly from Vincenzo Montella and Aldair to dispel any lingering memories of his last appearance in Rome -- the
1996 Champions League final defeat with Ajax to Juventus.
Juve's triumph would have been total but for Zidane's dismissal in the dying seconds for diving in the penalty area.
