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Sports / Soccer
Roma claim Serie A summit
(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-09-17 14:13
ROME? - Roma went to the top of the Serie A Sunday when they extended
their perfect start to the season to three out of three with a 2-0 win
over Reggina.
Juventus went into the weekend's action in the lead on goal difference
but slipped to fourth when suffering a shock 1-0 loss, their first defeat
of the new campaign, to Udinese in Turin.
AS Roma's Juan (top) jumps as Kris Stadsgaardof of Reggina lies on the
field during their Italian Serie A soccer match in Reggio Calabria
September 16, 2007. AS Roma won 2-0. [Reuters]
Inter Milan climbed four places to second with their 2-0 win, the second
of the season, over San Siro visitors Catania.
On paper Juventus rather than Roma looked to have the better chance of
maintaining their unblemished record for 2007/08 with the Romans
mustering only one win from their last four visits to Calabria.
But they boosted that record after Brazilian Juan marked his topflight
debut in the best possible way, putting Roma in front in the 50th minute
with Francesco Totti adding the second six minutes from time.
Roma's cause had not been helped when goalkeeper Alexander Doni failed to
come back for the second half after suffering an injury, the gloves being
taken by Under-21 international Gianluca Curci.
The result was a timely confidence booster ahead of Roma's opening
Champions League group tie against Dinamo Kiev.
"What interests me know is that my players keep their feet on the
ground," said coach Luciano Spalletti.
"There are clubs with far greater resources than us. And like us there
are other teams who can fight for the title, like Fiorentina."
In Turin Juventus, who face Roma next weekend, had a frustrating
afternoon with Alessandro del Piero hitting the post three times against
a Udinese side that had proved capable of holding Inter to a 1-1 draw at
the start of the campaign, only to crash 5-0 to Napoli.
There was to be no such repeat of that lopsided loss here with Udinese
taking the lead in the opening seconds of the second half in a three
player move started by Giuseppe Dossena and completed by the unmarked
Antonio Di Natale's header.
Di Natale's heroics came after his two goals for Italy in their 2-1 Euro
2008 qualifier win over Ukraine last week.
Udinese went close to doubling their advantage in the 62nd minute only
for Gyan Asamoah's half-volley to ricochet off the upright.
Napoli's 2-0 win over Sampdoria lifted them up five places into third
between Inter and Juve.
Sunday's late match between struggling Parma and mid-table Cagliari ended
in a 1-1 stalemate.
On Saturday fifth-placed AC Milan were held to their second successive
1-1 draw with only Alessandro Nesta's late late equaliser avoided an
embarrassing slip up at struggling Siena.
Siena, lying fourth from the foot of the table, took a 24th minute lead
thanks to Massimo Maccarone, who pounced on some comedy defending as
Nelson Dida fumbled an effort from Cristian Bucchi and then Kakha Kaladze
tripped over the ball as he attempted to clear it.
That let in Maccarone although the former Middlesbrough player was lucky
not to be caught up for offside as he slotted in from close range.
The Tuscany club were heading for a valuable maximum points until Nesta
popped up in the 91st minute to level from a volley after a move started
by a freekick awarded when Leandro Grimi felled Clarence Seedorf.
Also on Saturday Lazio were held to a goalless draw by second from bottom
Empoli.
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