[ITALY] Milan beat Napoli, 1-0, to go top of Serie A after Udinese stumbled at home to Genoa with a 2-2 tie. Lazio edged Catania late in the game by a single goal, Juventus left Roma just above the relegation zone with a 2-0 win, and Inter made hard work of beating bottom side Reggina. Cagliari scored more than a fifth of the league’s weekend goals by putting five past Bologna.
Milan went top in less than impressive fashion, relying on an own goal from Napoli’s German Denis three minutes from time for its winning goal, against a side reduced to 10 men for the entire second half. That goal, from a free kick by Ronaldinho, came just two minutes after Kaka had missed a penalty. “I am happy because following the difficult start to the season, we recovered quickly,” said Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti. “I’m very proud of this group.” Denis had scored a hat trick at the right end for Napoli the previous week.
City rival Inter also won, but only with a last-minute winner from Colombian defender Ivan Cordoba after it had thrown away a 2-0 lead at last-place Reggina. Brazilian defender Maicon and midfielder Patrick Vieira gave Inter its early advantage before Francesco Cozza and Franco Brienza leveled for the home team. “We slowed down after their first goal but it was more a question of carelessness than a physical problem,” said Inter’s Serbian midfielder Dejan Stankovic, offering a novel new theory on the mechanics of speed. “I think the team largely deserved the victory for the numerous scoring chances created.”
Juventus moved up into the top six with its 2-0 home win over Roma, and with four goals in two games is beginning to look in danger of becoming a half-attractive side. Alessandro del Piero scored a fine free kick, and midfielder Marco Marchionni added the second, sending Roma down to one place above the relegation zone. “I am glad that Marco managed to score after going near in the last few matches,” said Juve coach Claudio Ranieri, sounding like someone giving a speech at a school graduation ceremony. “He is a great person who works really hard and his name on the scorers’ list today is a prize for all his efforts.” How sweet.
Udinese dropped to second with its 2-2 draw at home to Genoa, and Lazio is lurking behind the front-runners after edging Catania 1-0 on a late goal from Pasquale Foggia. There were also 1-0 wins, that favorite Serie A scoreline, for Sampdoria (over Torino) and Siena (over Fiorentina). Palermo, a 3-0 winner at home to Chievo Verona, and Cagliari, who belted Bologna 5-1, will probably be expelled from the league for such extravagance. Health drink-soundalike Robert Aquafresca scored twice for Cagliari, as did Brazilian second-half substitute Jeda.
HIGHLIGHT (VIDEO): Alessandro del Piero’s free kick to put Juventus 1-0 up on Roma.