Juve extend lead as Milan lose to Bologna
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-01-31 11:09

Champions AC Milan slipped further behind Serie A leaders Juventus when they suffered a shock 1-0 defeat by mid-table Bologna at the San Siro on Sunday.

AC Milan's Hernan Crespo reacts during a Serie A match against Bologna at the San Siro stadium in Milan, northern Italy January 30, 2005. Bologna won the match 1-0. [Reuters]

Milan's second loss in a row, after last weekend's reverse at Livorno, leaves them on 42 points from 21 matches, eight adrift of Juventus, who won 2-1 at bottom club Atalanta.

Inter Milan are a distant third on 35 points after a Christian Vieri double gave them a 2-0 victory over Palermo.

AC Milan were desperate to keep pace with Juve but struggled to break down a Bologna team unbeaten in five matches.

The home side created all the early pressure, with Andriy Shevchenko heading a Clarence Seedorf cross narrowly wide and midfielder Vikash Dhorasoo having a goal overruled for handball.

Bologna's tactics were simple -- defend deep and hit Milan on the break -- and their approach soon paid off.

A swift counter-attack in the 27th minute ended with Claudio Bellucci backheeling the ball into the path of fellow striker Tomas Locatelli who lashed it past Milan keeper Dida.

Milan quickly rediscovered their rhythm but 10 minutes before the break they were forced to send on Jon Dahl Tomasson in place of Shevchenko, who left the field limping after colliding with defender Alessandro Gamberini.

Milan continued to create chances after the break. Bologna keeper Gianluca Pagliuca blocked a Hernan Crespo effort, a Cafu shot ran narrowly wide and Theodoros Zagorakis cleared Massimo Ambrosini's header off the line but the visitors held out.

JUVE'S REVENGE

Juventus, meanwhile, gained revenge over Atalanta, who had knocked them out of the Italian Cup earlier this month.

Juventus' Alessandro Del Piero celebrates after scoring against Atalanta during their Serie A match at the Atleti Azzurri d'Italia stadium in Bergamo, northern Italy, January 30, 2005.[Reuters]

Ruben Olivera proved an excellent stand-in for injured midfielder Pavel Nedved when he ran onto a through-ball to lob keeper Massimo Taibi after 23 minutes.

The result was sealed 10 minutes from time when a shove by Atalanta defender Marco Motta on Mauro Camoranesi gave Juve a penalty that Alessandro Del Piero converted.

A Lilian Thuram own goal in stoppage time gave Atalanta a consolation but came too late for a comeback.

Inter also enjoyed a comfortable win at Palermo, where they took a fourth-minute lead when goalkeeper Matteo Guardalben spilled a Juan Sebastian Veron free kick invitingly in front of Vieri, who nodded the ball home.

Inter keeper Francesco Toldo reacted quickly to tip Cristian Zaccardo's effort round his post, but Vieri made sure of all three points just before the hour mark with a cool finish from Dejan Stankovic's cutback.

In the Italian capital, Roma produced a Jekyll and Hyde performance to overcome plucky Messina.

They looked a shadow of themselves in the first half as Messina went 2-0 ahead with goals by striker Riccardo Zampagna and defender Alessandro Parisi.

Francesco Totti pulled a goal back in the 56th minute after a knockdown by Vincenzo Montella and four minutes later Totti hoisted a long ball forward for Antonio Cassano to stab home.

Roma completed their great escape with eight minutes left when Brazilian midfielder Mancini dribbled into the box, wrongfooted his marker and fired a low shot into the net.

Sampdoria, Roma's rivals for a Champions League berth, were held 1-1 by struggling visitors Siena, while Dino Zoff's Serie A debut as Fiorentina coach ended in a 1-0 loss at Cagliari.

Lazio are slipping towards the relegation zone after their third league defeat in a row as a last-gasp goal by striker Emiliano Bonazzoli gave Reggina a 2-1 victory.

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