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Mar. 14 - Mar. 21, 2004 |
AC Milan maintains a five-point lead
Reigning champions Juventus hoping to regain title in Italy's Serie A competition
By Mehrdad Masoudi
Originally Published: 2004-02-22
AC Milan maintained their five-point lead over Roma at the top of Serie A despite being held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Lecce, but reigning champions Juventus took advantage to get back into the title race. Second-placed Roma wasted a golden opportunity to close the gap when they were held to a surprise 0-0 draw at bottom club Ancona.
Juventus, however, seized their chance to inject new life into their bid to retain their Serie A crown as they beat Reggina 1-0 with a second-half goal from Enzo Maresca to move within six points of AC Milan. The AC Milan match was preceded by a minute's silence for Marco Pantani, the 1998 tour de France champion and a passionate Milan fan, who committed suicide in a hotel room in Rimini last weekend.
Anxious to move on after their humiliating midweek Cup thrashing by Lazio, the European champions found themselves behind after Lecce's Javier Ernesto Chevanton struck for the 11th time this season. The Uruguayan was brought down on the edge of the box by Alessandro Nesta and from the resulting free kick produced one of his trademark efforts, which left Dida with no chance.
Milan, who were seeking their ninth straight Serie A win, had to wait until the second half to draw level. Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti brought on Jon Dahl Tomasson after the break and it proved a wise decision as it was Tomasson who held up the ball for Andriy Shevchenko to volley in from just outside the box. Shevchenko has found memories of Lecce's Stadia Via del Mare as it was here in 1999 that he scored his first Italian league goal. Milan though almost bagged all the points at the end but Nesta's header was cleared off the line.
Lecce may be fourth from the foot of the standings, but this will have boosted their chances of avoiding relegation coming after they had put up a similarly defiant showing to hold reigning champions Juventus to an identical scoreline last month. Roma, runaway winners over Juventus the weekend before, failed to make any inroads on the league leaders after bottom of the table Ancona, helped by some crucial saves from their keeper Mancon, held them to a 0-0 draw.
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