A thundering 25-metre strike from European Footballer of the Year Pavel Nedved gave Italian champions Juventus a 1-0 win over Perugia in Serie A, moving them within three points of leaders AS Roma.
Roma, who face challengers and European champions AC Milan in the capital today, have 36 points with Juve now on 33.
Inter Milan move up to third after they came from behind to beat Lecce 3-1 at the San Siro with second-half goals from Julio Ricardo Cruz, Ivan Cordoba and Christian Vieri's 100th goal for the club.
But Lazio, who had won their last three games, suffered a setback, losing 2-1 to Reggina after taking a first-half lead through Fabio Liverani.
Former European Player of the Year Roberto Baggio scored twice for Brescia in their 4-2 win over Siena.
WINLESS PERUGIA
Juve, bidding for a third successive title, struggled against winless Perugia but Nedved, who showed off his Golden Ball award before the game, made the difference once again.
The Czech surged from midfield and unleashed a fierce right-foot drive from outside the area that whistled past Perugia's Australian keeper Zeljko Kalac.
Alessandro Del Piero hit the post for Juve five minutes after the break before Perugia broke away and hit the woodwork themselves through English forward Jay Bothroyd.
Chances were rare though as Juve, fielding a makeshift defence, kept it tight in the latter stages.
"We needed a win after drawing our last game at Lecce and we got it with a great goal from Nedved. But we suffered today," Juve coach Marcello Lippi told Italy's Sky Sport.
Inter also had to endure some difficulty before finally running out comfortable winners against Lecce.
The visitors went ahead in the third minute through Cesare Bovo header after the Inter defence stood and watched a corner bounce across the area.
Argentine striker Julio Ricardo Cruz brought Inter level five minutes after the break with a well-struck free-kick which flew in off the inside of the post.
Colombian Ivan Cordoba then put Alberto Zaccheroni's side ahead on the hour, meeting an Emre Belozoglu corner with a well-angled header at the near post.
Five minutes from the end, Vieri raced clear of the defence and rounded Lecce keeper Vukasin Poleksic before slotting the ball home to secure the win.
TURNING POINT
Lazio looked set to continue their recent run of good results after Liverani converted a Giuseppe Favalli cross in the 16th minute.
But the turning point came when striker Roberto Muzzi was dismissed in the 40th minute for a second bookable offence and Reggina took full advantage after the break.
David Di Michele's superb diving header put the Calabrians on level terms in the 59th minute before a powerful headed goal from Francesco Cozza ten minutes later ended Roman hopes.
Lazio ended the game with nine men after Massimo Oddo was dismissed in injury time.
Parma, facing an uncertain future due to the financial scandal at their owners Parmalat, received a boost with a 2-0 win at bottom club Ancona.
© 2024 Rediff.com -