Crespo hat-trick moves Milan closer as Juve held
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-01-07 10:07

Argentine striker Hernan Crespo hit a hat-trick as AC Milan beat Lecce 5-2 on Thursday to move within two points of Serie A leaders Juventus, who were held to a 1-1 draw at struggling Parma.

AC Milan's Argentinian striker Hernan Crespo celebrates after scoring his second goal against Lecce, during their Italian serie A football match at San Siro stadium in Milan. [AFP]

In the capital, Lazio enjoyed a 3-1 derby win over AS Roma with Paolo Di Canio on target for Giuseppe Papadopulo's side in the new coach's debut on the bench.

Champions Milan had the game at the San Siro wrapped up at 4-0 after just 57 minutes thanks to Crespo's triple and a goal from European Footballer of the Year Andriy Shevchenko.

Lecce pulled two goals back after Milan defender Alessandro Nesta was sent off in the 74th minute. Danish substitute Jon Dahl Tomasson made it 5-2 for Milan near the end.

Juventus led at Parma through a 64th minute header from Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic before Marco Marchionni's 85th minute goal ensured Fabio Capello's side's lead at the top was cut to just two points as they moved on to 40 points.

Third-placed Udinese's 10-match unbeaten run came to an end with a 2-0 defeat at Sampdoria leaving them nine points adrift of Juve, while Inter Milan won 2-0 at Livorno to stay fourth 13 points behind the leaders.

Bottom club Atalanta picked up their first win of the season with a 1-0 triumph over Fiorentina.

Milan, who drew at Juventus before the Christmas break, have now scored 11 goals in their last two home games and they opened up Lecce with ease.

Crespo, who has rediscovered his form, opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a simple tap in after a low cross from Brazilian Kaka.

The pair combined again for Milan's second goal after 36 minutes, Crespo this time showing some smart footwork to round Lecce goalkeeper Vincenzo Sicignano after Kaka had burst down the left flank.

GOLDEN SHEVCHENKO

Six minutes after the break Shevchenko, who showed his 'golden ball' award to the crowd before the game, made it 3-0 with a far post header from Andrea Pirlo's cross and unselfishly slipped the ball to Crespo for the Argentine's third.

After Nesta was dismissed for a professional foul on Lecce's Bulgarian striker Valeri Bojinov in the 74th minute, the visitors pulled two goals back.

Bojinov fired home a superb free kick just after the sending off and then Marco Cassetti made it 4-2 after 84 minutes before Shevchenko set up another tap in, this time for Tomasson.

"We showed today that we have regained the form we showed last season," said Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti. "We feel strong, solid and confident in what we're doing. We're not thinking about the points, our aim is to maintain this form".

Juventus had several first half chances against Parma and looked to have picked up another single goal win after Ibrahimovic was left unattended to head home a cross from Mauro Camoranesi.

Juventus's Pavel Nedved (R) challenges Vincenzo Grella (L) of Parma during their Serie A match at the Tardini stadium in Parma, northern Italy, January 6, 2005. [Reuters]

But with five minutes left, Juve's Uruguayan defender Paolo Montero's dreadful miskick let in Marchionni who burst goalwards and after keeper Gianluigi Buffon parried his first, right-foot, shot he blasted in the second with his left for the equaliser.

"It can happen in football that you draw a game after you have played well and should have won. We paid the price for an unlucky incident," said Capello.

Lazio's Di Canio, returning to the derby after his years in England, put his team ahead in the 29th minute with an expertly taken volley, as he let a Fabio Liverani pass fall over his shoulder before firing home.

But the fiery Di Canio, a hardcore Lazio 'ultra' in his youth, could face a fine after aggressively celebrating his goal in front of the Roma supporters.

Roma drew level in the 69th minute when Antonio Cassano headed home a Christian Panucci cross but within five minutes Lazio restored their lead when Di Canio chipped a loose ball to winger Cesar and the Brazilian drove home a low shot.

Striker Tommaso Rocchi bagged Lazio's third in the 85th minute when he broke the offside trap, nodded the ball around Roma goalkeeper Ivan Pelizzoli and steered the ball home to give Lazio their first derby win since March 2000.

The game was held up in the second half after Roma captain Francesco Totti was stunned by a firecracker that exploded close to him and there were clashes between fans and police outside the stadium after the game.

Inter went ahead at Livorno three minutes before the break when defender Marco Materazzi headed in at the back post and then Vieri made it 2-0 with a second half spot kick.

Udinese's excellent run of form was halted by Sampdoria who took the lead through a fine strike from the lively Francesco Flachi in the 68th minute.

They made it 2-0 when Marcello Castellini's header against the bar bounced into the net off the back of Udinese keeper Morgan De Sanctis.

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