Co-Leaders Juventus, Lazio Win; Roma Loses
Posted: Sunday December 12, 1999 05:46 PM
MILAN, Italy (AP) -- One player down -- and one goal up -- Juventus downed Milan rival Internazionale 1-0 in Sunday's Big Match of Week 13 to stay tied with Lazio atop the Serie A.
La Juve, extending its unbeaten streak to nine matches, improved its record to 8-4-1 for 28 standings points, equaling Lazio, which defeated Fiorentina 2-0 at Rome's Olympic stadium.
The Serie A co-leaders were reduced to two as AS Roma, which was part of a leading trio prior to Sunday's round, tumbled at Bologna and slipped three points behind, at 25.
Juventus striker Filippo Inzaghi, fed by Alessandro Del Piero, kicked in the game winner from ten meters, at Turin's Della Alpi arena, in the 20th. It was Inzaghi's seventh season gol in league matches which added to 11 in Mitropa, UEFA and Italian Cups.
The Turin team, which seemed to have the match under control, suddenly ran into serious problems when its Dutch keeper Edwin Van Der Sar was ejected after receiving a second yellow card, leaving his team 10 against 11 in the remaining 30 minutes of play.
Inter fielded added forwards -- Alvaro Recoba and Roberto Baggio -- in the second half, kept La Juve under steady pressure but failed to break through the best league defense.
The fourth season loss, after three consecutive wins, left Inter with 23 points in a tie with crosstown rival AC Milan.
Croat veteran striker Alen Boksic and Yugoslav forward Dejan Stankovic scored in Lazio's home victory.
AS Roma suffered a 1-0 upset at Bologna, its first season loss on the road.
Match details
Juventus 1, Inter 0
At Turin, it was an emotional match, with former Juventus coach Marcello Lippi and former Juve players Christian Vieri, Baggio and Angelo Peruzzi playing on the rival side.
The visiting team had an early chance when a defensive mishap by Paolo Montero gave clear way to Inter's Chilean striker Ivan Zamorano who was fouled by keeper Edwin Van der Sar at the penalty area edge.
The keeper received his first caution on this action and got the second in the 61st for alleged hands outside the area. Television slow-motion showed that the referee took a wrong decision as the keeper stopped the ball with his chest.
In the final minutes, as Inter clashed helplessly against Juventus defensive wall, it was the home team to spoil consecutive scoring chances with Darko Kovacevic and Edgar Davids.
