Milan hit six but Juve stay four points clear
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-12-13 10:11

AC Milan crushed Fiorentina 6-0 at the San Siro on Sunday with Andriy Shevchenko and Clarence Seedorf scoring two goals each.

AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko, seen here October 2004, said that winning the European Footballer of the Year award was the perfect way to end an unforgettable 12 months. [AFP]

The Italian champions still remain four points behind leaders Juventus, who won 1-0 at Bologna.

Ukrainian Shevchenko, widely tipped to be named European Footballer of the Year on Monday, took his season tally to 11 goals as Milan turned in their best performance of the season.

Juventus needed a superbly struck 86th minute free-kick from the winner of last year's Golden Ball, Czech Pavel Nedved, to win at Bologna and maintain their advantage over Milan before the two teams meet at the Delle Alpi stadium on Saturday.

Inter Milan drew for a remarkable 12th time in 15 games with a late Christian Vieri strike giving them a 2-2 draw away to lowly Siena, who had defender Stefano Argilli sent off in the 57th minute.

Brazilian Adriano, who had opened the scoring, missed a 59th minute penalty and Tore Andre Flo's 87th minute header looked to have given Siena a 2-1 win until Vieri struck in injury time.

AS Roma also left it late -- a penalty deep in injury time from Brazilian Mancini giving them a 1-0 win away to Brescia.

Carlo Ancelotti's Milan went ahead in the 16th minute when Andrea Pirlo's penalty was pushed out by Fiorentina keeper Cristiano Lupatelli but Dutchman Seedorf reacted quickly to head home the loose ball.

Milan doubled their lead when Brazilian Kaka fed Argentine striker Hernan Crespo who slipped the ball past the advancing Lupatelli and Fiorentina defender Giorgio Chiellini's attempt to clear ended up in his own net.

Eight minutes after the break Shevchenko made it 3-0, with a cool finish at the end of a flowing move led by Kaka and then Crespo, looking back to his best, fired home superbly after being put through by a long pass from Pirlo.

Shevchenko's second and Milan's fifth came after a smart exchange with Crespo and then Seedorf tapped in a Massimo Ambrosini pass to make it 6-0 in the 83rd minute.

ANGRY PROTESTS

Bologna defied their lowly position with an aggressive display against Juventus but they were left fuming at three refereeing decisions which proved to be decisive.

Twice striker Giacomo Cipriani felt he should have had a penalty in the second half after he went down under challenges from Juve's French defenders Jonathan Zebina and Lilian Thuram.

Then with four minutes of the match remaining referee Tiziano Piero blew for a foul on the edge of the area as Bologna defender Ciro Capuano challenged Juve's Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for a header.

It was a harsh decision and after lengthy protests, Nedved blasted a right-foot drive past Gianluca Pagliuca to give Juventus a vital victory.

Earlier Nedved had a struck the post with a header while Mourad Meghni forced a great save out of Juventus keeper Gianluig Buffon.

Inter's latest point leaves them well out of the title running in fifth place and once again they paid for their poor defending.

Adriano fired Inter ahead from the penalty spot in the 36th minute but the lead lasted just five minutes as Siena defender Daniele Portanova, who had conceded the spot kick with a foul on Esteban Cambiasso, was left unmarked to head the Tuscans level.

Argilli was sent off after handling a Vieri shot on the line but this time Adriano struck the post with his penalty to let Siena off the hook.

With three minutes of normal time remaining Siena, coached by former Inter boss Luigi Simoni, grabbed the lead when Norwegian Flo rose above Marco Materazzi to head home a free-kick.

Inter were facing their first defeat of the season but Vieri rose supremely to head home a corner and give them yet another draw.

Once again Roma showed that they are little threat without Francesco Totti and they were fortunate to emerge victorious at Brescia.

With just seconds of injury time remaining Brescia's Paraguayan defender Victor Hugo Mareco blatantly handled a cross and Mancini rattled home the penalty.

Mareco left the field in tears as the whistle blew immediately after the Brazilian's spot kick.

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